Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-04-21
Admiral Mayo'sA Action
81 Ended Policy Of Waiting
Army and Navy Journal Credits That Officer With Taking
the Steps to End ~lndignities Toward American
In Citizenship War for Bryan

lary hOstilities IL the occasion should
call for that solution. But tho United
States is, Not directly is it SO com
mitted through the announced policy
Of the Administration, but it is In
directly through the declaration Of
William Jennings Bryan on assuming
the duties of Secretary of State a year
ago that there would be no war as
long as he was Secretary OF State. Mr..
Bryan as Secretary of State is the
leading member Of the Cabinet and
il tao line. of succession would in a
certain contingency become President
Of the United States. He was more
widely known abroad than Mr.. vii.
son. Nothing was easier than for the
Mexicans to misi1terpet this declara'
ton of Secretary Bryan and to as
sumo that the United States could
not even Y be kicked into a fight.
Holding this view Of the American
character, 1T is only natural that the
Mexicans went from bad to worse in
their ,coltumacious treatment of
: Americans, until at last they actually
arrested officers of an American wan
ship. Doubtless they themselves are
surprised, at the rumpus that arrest
caused. After months of successful
defying of the rights Of other Amer.
leans, they Inlay reasonably be expect.
ed to be taken aback al this sudden
display Of backbone on the part Of
al American admiral.
The hearty approval which the peo-
Pile and the press of tie country have
given to the demand of Admiral May
will doubtless have a healthy effect
upol any Americans, either in or out
Of high office, who may nave believed
that they have correctly interpreted
the spirit of the people of the United
States. hen, they have disclaimed any
intention OF, the Government to adopt
severe measures to awaken the Mex,
leans to al appreciation Of what Is
due the American Republic. Whether
any other direct, benefit shall come
from the attitude of Admiral Mayo,
this good can already be seen in it,
that he has, shown the Mexican people
tiat' the fighting spirit of General
Scott, General Taylor, Gen. Sam Hous-
ton, General Dix. and others of like
quality, is not yet dead and that it
must be recko1ed with as the final
factor in, the ultimate adjustment OF
the proper relations that must subsist
between the two countries.
In statement given out in Wash
iagton on April Is, which was said to
be. official" and represented the
views of the administration, the fol-
lowing paragraph appeared: "These
repeated Offenses against the rights
and dignity of the United States, Of.
fenses not duplicated with regard to
}the Representatives Of other govern
ments have necessarily made the i'm
preston that the Government Of the
United States was singled out for
manifestations of ill will and con-
tempt The last few words. If chang
ed. miglt better represent the situa-
tiol. Ii. they read that the Govern
ment of the United. States was singled
out as. the safest nj to kick" they
would more nearly explain the effect
Of our attitude Of complaisance to-
ward Mexico: Too long has the
Ulitcd States. occupied the position
of the individual who plaiatively asks
ed, Perhaps. 1T was right to dissem-
bic your love, but why did you kick
me. down .stajrs?" Admiral Mayo, let
us hope, has put an end to a civility
that could be easily distorted into Sc
Witty. t3