Evening journal., 1914-04-28
TUESDAY APR. %, 1914.
NrrnEn-A nErINIrr r0LIcY.

A MERICANs are inherently patriotic ln time OF
a bitter controversy sanguinary conflict with
foreien Power il Characteristic of them to present
a united front to outside foe There may be. in
such an emergency, many Americans who think the
national administration IS wrong in what 1t has done
and what it proposes doing they may say so frankly
TO their friends and noghbors here at homo but
when the issue oonfronts the nation the spirit, my
country right or wrong" asserts itself and the foreign
Power finds itself confronted by united and unter-
rihod American manhood that will make any needed
sacrifice OF fe blood and wealth support the Federal
Government in its warlike enterprise 1t IS that ciar-
acterstic of the American people that stands Pres
dent Wilson in such good stead today in dealing with
the Mexican situation Io has the patriotic support
Of thousands of Americans who at the time think
do not hesitate to assert that in his Mexican policy
he has made several errors that are almost funda-
mental in their nature.
There are thousands OF patriotic Americans who
think that there has been in the past entirely too much
American meddling in the internal affairs Of Mexico
and who know that the full extent of that meddlng
has not been represented by the patiently waiting
policy OF the Wilson administration.
There are thousands OF patriotic Americans who feel
that mistake was made when the Wilson admnistra-
ton refused to recognize as the de government
tho Huera administration sought to take sides in
what was essentially international conflict in
foreign country.
Many Americans also express doubt that the WI
son administration acted wisely when II raised the
embargo arms ammunition and other munitions OF
our southern border and permitted many tholi-
sands Of rifles, many millions OF rounds of ammuni-
tion and liuch other destructive material be
across the line Mexican reyolutionists Who
Of war between the United states and Mexico may
those American munitions Of for the destruction
OF American sailors and soldiers.
The Wilson administration warned, both by
American and Mexican opinion, that an invasion of
Mexican territory by American forces would produce
at least for the time being united Mexico resist
such nyason Huerta ras spoken for his side and
carranza has spoken for his side. General vfa,
OF carranza's leutenanta has declared himself in
favor Of the Americans, but little reliance need be
placed IN what he says If the spirit Of Mexican na-
tonasm be aroused among his followers he must so
with the tide disappear forever as factor Mex
lean politics.
And now that our warships have seized Mexican
ports and blood has been shed on both sides and our
land forces Mexican soil, there seems to be- on
the part O. the Wilson administration no settled policy
for the future. Each step will take care OF ITSELF
was the assertion OF a prominent official Of the Navy
Department in discussing the administrations Mex
ican policy Such policy is far from satisfying to
the American people. Their desire Is that the ma
tonal administration shall decide what Il is going to
do and then ahead and do it, Standing as they do
unit behind the President. they have right to ask
that a definite policy be announced and pursued and
that the dangerous policy Of letting each step take
care Of ITSELF" be discarded.
Almost anything Is preferable to the doubt that
has surrounded the situation and that may continue
TO surround It if the present mediation overtures nl-
tated by Argentina, Brazil and Chile accepted by
President Wilson and President Huerta, fail.