The Republican journal., 1913-11-06

With all due respect to William ].
B ryan, and the fullest recognition of his
unquestioned abilities, it must be admit
ted, and we believe is generally admitted,
that he is misfit in his present Office.
But he is not to be held responsible for
the policy of the administration or the
lack of one-on the Mexican question.
That is the Presidents own affair, and he
is the one to be held responsible. In one
respect President Wilson has reversed
what became the policy of this country
when it emerged from its swaddling
clothes and won recognition as a full
fedged nation: that of affording the pro-
lection of the flag to American citizens
wherever they might be. That has long
been the policy of Great Britain. An
indignity or an injury to a British subject
in any part of the world brought a
prompt demand for PREPARATION, backed
up by ships and troops if necessary, and
Americ ans in times past have sought
protection under the British flag. Now
President Wilson orders all Americans
to leave Mexico, abandoning their prop
erty and business interests, while Brit
ish subjects remain; and if this country
does not protect their lives and property,
rest assured that Great Britain will in
tervene, regardless of the Monroe doe
trine or the request of President Wilson
to keep off. And she will be fully war
ranted in SO doing: and for the lack of
protection by the administration Ameri-
can citizens should have an equitable
claim against this government for their
property losses.
1t is announced from Washington that
IN response to a request from this gov
eminent three European nations, Great
Britain, Germany and France, have
agreed to adopt no new policy toward
Mexico until the Government of the
United States can submit for their con-
sideration definite plan for the future
treatment of that revolution torn repub-
lie. The making of such a request is of
course tantamount to an admission that
the Administration has had no policy.
and it is question how long these three
great powers will hold their hands, es-
pecially if their subjects and interests
in Mexico should be imperiled. In case
intervention should be found necessary
it is evident that Great Britain, Germany
and France would act in unison. The
situation demands a trained and expert
enced diplomat, and he is not to be found
m the White House or in the State De
partment. The Boston Transcript says
of the situation
AS result of the drifting course OF
the Administration in dealing with the
Mexican situation, this nation is today
confronted by the gravest crisis in its
foreign affairs SINCE the war with Span.
Not only is the Government on the
verge of Intervention, but our relations
with Euronean Powers are such that 1t
will be difficult to command sympathy or
respect for any eleventh. hour program
which the Washington Government may
be able to agree upon. So serious is the
situation that even our garrulous and
peripatetic Secretary of State is for the
moment silent and stationary. Doubt
less the President at any rate is now
aware that the loose talk and foolish
commitments of Mr. Bryan are primar-
lily responsible for Great Britain's as
sumption of international leadership in
Mexico, which properly belongs to the
ment under the present Administration
has failed to exercise