The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-06

perhaps Mr.. Mann is justified in his
appreheusions. Many people still Gre
member the Maine"
At this writing it looks as though war
with the United States would be the
easiest way out of a desperate situe-
tion for Dictator Huerta, and it is more
than probable he will try to force the
issue rather than submit to tho elimi-
nation process suggested by President
Wilson.
The attitude of this country prior to
the outbreak Of the Spanish American
war WAS very similar to the position it
now occupies as regards the terrible
scenes being daily enacted in the dis
tracted and disintegrating republic of
Mexico, President Mckinley had set
his face sternly against the very
thought of war and bore with Chris
tian fortitude the attacks made upon
him for trying TO avert its horrors. The
time came, however, when he could no
longer hesitate. What followed is his
tory. II is by no means certain that
President Wilson will have any better
success in averting a conflict similar
in so many respects.
The attitude of the foreign powers
was pretty much the samo then as
now In spite Of the snarls OF one or
two London papers, Great Britain kept
her fingers out of the pic and in
measure prevented the continental ma
tions from mixing in TO such an extent
as to embarrass the United States, al
though the outcome was inevitable from
the beginning.
France, Germany and Austria be-
lieved, or pretended TO believe, that
Spain was the equal Of the United
States at the outbreak Of hostilities.
There were 200, 900 Spanish regulars In
Cuba. and on paper tho Spanish fleet
was not much inferior to that of this
country. The continental powers looked |
for long struggle and the German en-
peror planned a diplomatic demonstra-
ton. France and Austria were favor
able aud intervention on behalf OF |
Spain was thought TO be assured. As
before stated, Great Britain s refusal
to take part put damper on the ksi'
ser's httlo scheme,
The victory Of Dewey at Manila,
however distasteful to the chancellories
at Paris, Berlin and Vienna, opened the
eyes of tho statesmen at those capitals
as well as the world at large TO the
fact that Spain was not TO be men
toned in the same breath with the
United States as fighting power, and
also to the fact that the war was be.
ing waged for righteous cause In the
holy name Of Freedom.
Some Of the European newspapers,
notably the Paris Temps, predicted
that war with Spain would have
grave international consequences to
he United States, while the Journal
les Debats spoke Of our Intervention
n Cuba as "an act of international
piracy without shadow Of Justice
about it." They have pretty much the
same ideas regarding the policy of the
present administration In Mexico. They
-efuse 10 believe that our purpose is
purely humanitarian, This is perhaps
rot so surprising when we consider the
act that wars in the old world are al
age, with now and then the tipping
'ver of n tyrannical government.
The truth Of the matter is, we
laven' Z any more sympathy abroad at
ne present time than we had prior to
nc declaration Of congress that war
a,,h h. oo1o /
ion, by the way, that was used when
iostilities began with Mexico some
eventy years ago. Fortunately, we do
Tot need either sympathy or approval.
Leader Mann may or may not be
justified in his belief that war ts at
land; Chairman Hay may not have had
hat contingency in view when he
pressed the volunteer army bill to pas
age. and President Wilson may have
.ood reasons for the faith that Is in
i'm that Huerta will be forced by the
ogic Of events TO abdicate and that in
lace OF a dictatorship and despotism
ne people of Mexico may enjoy con-
titutional government in fact as we'll
IS form.
These arc questions for the future to
Iecide, but il is just as we'll to
20 prepared for any eventuali-
Y, and if tho volunteer army bill In
rcasos our preparedness for a war we
III forvently hope will never come, so {
much the better. If the indications s
low are the same as prior to the Span {
sh- h-American war, the outcome is no {
ess certain. I