The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-11-26
HOME FROM VERA CRUZ.

The decision of the Washington Cover
ment to evacuate Vera Cruz week from
MONDAY We welcome in the hope that the
withdrawal will mark the end of feeble
meGdling' in Mexico's affairs and of
ineffective intervention. If the policy
of ..watchful waiting" is to be restored.
for the sake OF our own country S Sell
respect let u watch and wait upon Am
erican soil. The seizure of Vera Cruz
was made under false pratences; it was
ACCOMPLISHED at the needless sacrifice of
the lives of twenty bluejackets and ma
rines and of more than three hundred
Mexicans. The salute to the flag was
but the excuse for the landing, not the
cause. and the demand for that salute
was withdrawn without any serious at
tempt at enforcing it. The army reliev
ed the navy as supposed first step to-
ward effective intervention, but the Ad-
ministration's Mexican impolicy' has
kept General Funston and his forces
hemmed up in an unhealthy city and de-
MED them permission even to erect minor
defences against attack. Meanwhile the
presence of our troops has increased the
hatred and contempt in which men and
things American are held throughout
Mexico today. Twice within the last
three months Washington has officially
announced the homecoming of the ex-
peditionary force, only to recall the
promise few days later. We hope the
third published pledge will be fulfilled
next Monday week, regardless OF inter-
vening events or future consequences.
If we take our promised leave of Vera
Cruz on Nov. %, what will have been ac-
complished for Mexico by the expedition!
Today the words of Senator Lodge ind
striking confirmation: ''There is no peace
in Mexico or with Mexico" Our troops
leave Vera Cruz in response to the INSIST
ent demands of Mexicans of all factions.
They leave behind them state of anar-
chy more widespread if not worse than
anything they found upon their arrival
in the dark days of Huerta. Villa and
Carranza, whose forces the Wilson Ad-
ministration aided and abetted, are now
at war with each other. Both Of these
bandits bid us be gone that they may
continue their warfare unhampered by
any foreign force of "watchful walters.
The taking of Vera Cruz accomplished
nothing for Mexico save to prolong the
period of internecjne strife. AS for our
relations with that stricken country, the
occupation has made US more hated in
Mexico and other Latin-Amerlcan coun-
ries than ever. The Mexican people
give us no credit for limiting our occupa-
ton to their principal port. They attri-
butte it to the fear Of our soldiers to go
beyond the range of the guns of our bat
tleships in the harbor. So, too, Mexican
people will believe that the th-coming
evacuation has been dictated by fear OF
an attack from the armies of Villa and
Carranza. Nevertheless, we can better
afford 10 get out of Mexico, withdraw
our troops from Vera Cruz and our fleet
from Mexican waters, and adopt policy
of "hands off, until the nation forces
this Administration or elects another to
restore peace in Mexico by effective in
PREVENTION, and discharge with fidelity
and without fear our responsibilities un-
der the Monroe Doctrine. Boston Trans
cript.