The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-08-02
AS TO MEXICO
Discussion of the Situation in
That Unfortunate
Country

AZ JIG ~ 1893 a. php1htAo
in Mexico is not at the present writing
growing better does not longer admit
of argument. A glance through tn,
editorial comments of some of our lead
ing journals should be sufficient t.
command s~tricter attention, and war
rant personal investigation as far al
practicable, of the civic affairs in oul
sister republic at this time. While
some may question the motives which
underlie and prompt much of the
war talk OF today, and'for this rea,
son pay little or no attention to the
issue by which our government is now
confronted yet il the United States il
up to deciding on some definite policy
| toward Mexico If it is a real fac,
| that we must accept q IF tn rec alter
natives, namely, absolute neutrality
as regards the warning factions 10
that country; the plan of meditation,
OF Intervention, then 1t behooves us To-
cslly to watch with unusual interest
developments in Washington regard
ing this matter.
The first named policy is not at all
likely to be adopted by u government
as I'll is would virtually recognize a
state of belligerence to exist in the re,
public of Mexico. This in turn would
subject the country to the laws of war
10 consequence of which foreign pow
ers would insist upon landing troops,
il necessity demanded their presence,
to protect the lives and property of
their citizens. These developments
would of course be 30 grossly contrary
to the spirit if not the letter of the
Monroe Doctrine that the procedure
could not be tolerated by the American
people, The difficulties in the way of
the meditation policy are self evident.
1t lie doubtful If any one of the factions
in Mexico would approve of such a
plan as they apparently feel confident
they are able to solve their own prob
lens and work out their own political
destiny. Intervention is a term used
in this particular instance only as a
substitute for war. Since 1846-4S,
the time of the ruinous reduction of
their dominions, Mexico, not alto
getber without cause, has looked up.
on Uncle Sam with equivocsl sppre-
hension, The landing of u. s. troops
across the boarder would threaten the
national life of Mexico aud would
therefore doubtless be a signal for the
u~nihcstion of the several factions
there. against a common enemy.
This would lead to a war aud a
period Of probably five years would
elapse before civil quietude would
again be experienced in that country.
We would not be in favor of a
war with Mexico at this time if war
can possibly be averted for the reason
that there Is nothing the United States
could conscienciousiy gain thereby, aud
there is much that could be lost. The
first and most important loss would be
that of human life the toll of which in
this case would not be small. Besides
this biological loss there would be the
usual moral loss which every nation
suffers as an inevitable consequence of
war. And then there would be the
economic loss Millions and millions
Of dollars of Americas best wealth
would be sacrificed in order to bring
a war of this kind to a successful
termination. Only wise and judici-
Gus craftsmanship VI believe, and
perhaps not this. will now prevent
tuch a course Of action and at the
same tue bring about domestic tran
guilty in this distracted, ::r~evolution-
ary-torn country to the south. BY
our patience toward Mexico we have
demonstrated to the satisfaction OF
most foreign powers that we are not
ohsessed with nor actuated by the
spirit of territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
and while it is impossible at present
to forecast the exact attitude the United
States may be forced to assume toward
this perturbed neigh DOR of ours. it is
safe to conclude that almost any policy
that would result ultimately in the es-
tablishment of some form OF govern
ment with which other countries
might be able to maintain diplomatic
relations would be acceptable. and
| would serve to ease the present inter
national tention very materially. The
Mexican people are not advancing in
their capacity for self government.
So much of that nations resources
have been expended on mere existence
that for years practically non has
been available for progress and de-
velopment. This fact has allowed the
general standard OF the people to de-
teriorate rather than to improve until
it is we'll nigh impossible for any great
genius to exist within their boarde,s
A feeble nation can not as a rule
produce great men and in case q
competent, trustworthy statesman
should arise he would not be recog.
nized as such by his own people. II
is the lack of great men, real states.
men in Mexico therefore that makes
the situation there one Of the very
hardest kind with which to deal. 1t ID
the absence OF strong governmental in.
situations backed up by an intelligen,
public opinion also that places the
issues at stake quite beyond the scope
| of international arbitration.