The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-05-02
War or Peace?
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE MExI
CAN SITUATION.
Will History Repeat itseIf7-Patri.
otism of the Afro-American Of
Richest Quality.
(Ry Chas. A. starks.l

(By Chas. A. Starks.)
Alas, Mexico has embroiled herself
with the United States the self ap-
pointed policeman of the great West
ern world, who proceeds police-like to
apply, not the usual regulation club,
on the offending one, but sends sew
eral men of war in Mexican waters
to. awe the "culprits" along with a
vast army of infantry and cavalry to
do the first real slaughtering. The
honor of the country must be upheld.
What just provocation our esteem
ed Uncle Sam has for instituting cor
poral punishment on the Mexicans is
not at all clear. This much is GER
tain: Some one has blundered." A
slight thing which has caused all of
the wars which human history can
boast of. In this particular case. it
is not easy to determine whether
Mexico, already war-ridden, has delib-
erately added another devil to its usu-
ally large stock of such by insulting
this country, or that Uncle Sam has
simply pounced upon a slight oppor-
tunity to try out his men in much
needed rifle practice even though hui
man beings must stop the bullets. If
we must have war, let us have it now
Now is the psychological time. Base
ball has not even begun to reach its
zenith; the execution of the gun
men" is a matter of history; the Cri-
sis of the "Shidler Case" is past; re-
cent municipal elections over the
country have been forgotten all is
we'll in congress. The hour is propi-
tious. We must have news" What
better thing than war?
We have already made some prog
ress in this direction. Just a few
days ago we sent our men against
Vera Cruz capturing the town with
only the loss of a quartette of soldiers
while incidentally over two hundred
Mexican casualties were discovered
after the smoke had cleared away.
We are told that excitement ran high,
and that the Mexican soldiers also
ran" they evidently not liking the
Yankee aspect. The sparsely armed
citizenry resented the presence of the
Americans and it was these people
who furnished the two hundred vic
tins that were sacrificed. upon the
implacable altar of war. Question:
How long will it take Mexico to whip
the United States at the rate of in
juries sustained in the first battle
Any way this country is In no im-
mediate danger of annihilation by our
close neighbors.
Mexico is not united. She never has
has been. She was nearest this when
she travelled under the Steele-gripped
hand of Diaz. If Mexico was united
she could prolong the crime OF war
devasting herself and at least disturb
the tranquility of our citizens as she
has done in the past. But so far the
war" lacks interest. The Hague
Tribunal or peace conference is
much more livelier, we do get some
"fine speeches" on disarmament" and
the suppositious progress of mankind
in solving human problems without
the shedding of blood. Give us the
resolves Even when they do not
materialize if they are good, then they
are better than wrong action" Some
are taking it seriously. A noted edu
Gator (white), has addressed lettel
to President Wilson suggesting the
organization of over one hundred Ne
gro regiments to fight the Mexicans
Great! The writer deemed 1t un
necessary to offer any argument II
favor of such policy, hence leayini
people to misconstrue his meaning
which many will do. However, tn
thought persuades the Negro to tax
some kind of a stand in the presen
affair. Many of our white brethrel
are curious to know how the blacl
man likes the situation. To answe
this we are quoting a little history
HE fought to free his master" is a.
immortal truth that titles the page
of book by Frederick Douglass, Tn
Negro at that time was considere
little more than beast. But braV
Crispus Attucks, a black slave, chris
tened the white mans struggle TO
human rights with his noble Dloot
And five thousand Negroes gave thei
lives and service that the white ma
might enjoy the Divine rights OF a
men--life, liberty and the pursuit
happiness. In this the white ma
showed his appreciation by ingrat
tude and perfidy. Douglass said
Lincoln: "Arm the Negro" Lincol
said: 81 fear the arms would 500
be in the, hands of the rebels" Free
erick Douglass greater logic prevail
ed, hence the Negro's activities
the Civil War earned his own fire
dom and his strong arm played a m
jor part in saving the Union-enS
and jealousy we're his reward. u
happy Spain offended this counti
out of which came the hance for IL