Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-09-04

a
Wilson'S message, read before n io,n,
session Of congress. contained a com.
pete history Of our negotiations with
mexico, and included the following
advisory statements.
Ihat all Americans be earnestly
urged to leave Mexico at once.
nat Mexico be informed summary
punishment will be made IL Amert
can lives are outraged.
mat he deems II his duty to let the
various Mexican factions fight ont
their troubles.
That he must prohibit shipment OF
arms to both federal and rebels to In
sure strict neutrality by the United
States.
failure OF the negotiations OF Spe-
cial Envoy John Lind was reported by
the president. but he said the door
was not closed to resumption OF peace
oyertures.
Ihe president regards the situation
as critical. The spirit of his address
was friendship for the Mexican peo-
pie. but extreme pessimism as to the
outlook for immediate restoration of
peace. because Of President Huerta's
rejection Of the mediation plan.
The Message in Part
In part, the president said:
1T is clearly my duty to lay be-
Tore you fully. very fully. and without
reservation. the facts concerning cur
present relations with the republic Of
Mexico. The deplorable posture Of af.
fairs in Mexico I need not describe.
but | deem II my duty to speak very
frankly what this government has
done and should seek &c DO in fulfill
ment Of its obligations to Mexico her
self. as a friend and neighbor. and to
the American citizens whose lives and
vital interests are daily Affected by
the distressing conditions which aov
sbtain beyond our southern border.
Meanwhile. what is IL our duty to
do? Clearly. everything that we must
do must be rooted in patience and
done with calm and disinterested de-
liberation fmpatience on our part
would be childish and would be
frzught with every risk OF wrong ana
folly.
We can afford to exercise the self
restraint OF . really great nation
which reaiizes its own strength and
scorns TO use ~ II was cur duty q
offer our active assistance.
1T is now our duty to show what
true neutrality will do to enable the
people of Mexico to set their Affairs in
order again and wait for further op-
portunity to offer our friendly coun-
sells. The door is not closed against
the resumption. either upon the init
ative OF Mexico or upon our own, CT
the effort to bring order out o. the
confusion by friendly cooperative ac-
tion. should fortunate occasioe offer
Contest viii BE shars.e.
while we wait. the contest OF the
xfzal forces will undoubtedly for lit-
tie while be sharper than ever. Just
because it will be plain that an end
must be made Of the existing situAr
tion. and that very promptly; and at
the increased activity OF the contend
fng factions will come, it is TO be
feared. increased danger to the non
eombatants in Mexico as well as to
those actually in the field OF battle.
The position OF outsiders is always
particularly trying and full Of hazard
where there is civil strife and a whole
country is upset
We should earnestly urge allAmer.
leans to leave Mexico at once and
should assist them to get away In
every way possible-not because we
would mean to slacken in the least
our efforts 10 safeguard their lives and
their interest. but because it is i'm
peratiye that they should take no un-
necessary risks when it is physically
possible for them to leave the coun-
Try.
I'VE should let everyone who as
sumes TO exercise authority In any
part OF Mexico know In the most un- |
eQuivocal way that We shall vigilantly |
watch the fortunes OF those Ameri- |
cans who cannot get away and shall |
hold those responsible for their suffer |
ings and losses to a definite reckon |
ing. That can be and will be made |
plain beyond a possibility OF a misun-
derstanding.
For the rest deem II my duty to /
exercise the authority conferred upon |
me by the law OF March Il. 1912, to
see to il that neither side to the strug-
gle now going on in Mexico receive
any assistance from this side of the
border. I shall follow the best prac-
tice OF nations in the matter Of neu-
trality by forbidding the expectation
of arms or munitions of war Of any
e~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Should Have Had More Thought
An Atchison man committed suicide
by drowning himself in = cistern.
why. in the name Of all that's Just
and fair" demands the Lebo Star.
didn't he jump into the river instead
of spelling a cistern full Of good
vater?"-Kansas City Star.