Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-11-21
THE OCCUPATION OF VERA CRUZ.

Now that the United State y about ~
s~elinquish the port OF Vera Cruz to IL
i.ghtful ownes~, having -ct next Monday a.
the date tor The final evacuation, the press
all over the country D. discussing the
course Of President Wilson IL having oc-
copied Mexico heading port for the better
part OF a year. There will AWAY Toe pco-
pie whose Chief pleasure IL ~ critiri-ing
aud pulling To pieces, rather than M giving
wholesome praise. and II VAS 10 BE- eX-
pected there would w. some criticism Of
the Vera Cruz incident. There were those
who blamed the president tor ordering the
occupation ~ the port al an, and. with
the usual Inconsistency of the carping
critic, many Of these are now among the
ioude~t III Remuneration 81 hIm tor with
drawing the troops. Other who were dis
satisfied because We stopped II Vera Cruz
and did not march on 10 Mexico City. are
now blaming the administration for having
taken possession Of the port at all.
To all fair minded persons. however. IL
II apparent that the course Of the president
Ia ordering the occupation 81 the leading
port 81 MeXico after the insult offered IT,
the American flag by lluorta Wa one of
the wi>est thing he ha~ done. There Is no
denying the fact that llucrta was al the
time inclined ia feel extremely lrritated
against the United Stat-S. because OF Mr..
Wilson, steady refusal {" recognize \ GOV
eminent founded upon the ioul crime of
assassination Had We ignored the arrest
Of the American marines IA Tamplco. that
act would douhtle~~ have been followed IA
other and more aggressive insult which. IN
the end, might have forced ho~tilitie~ be-
tween the two countries. The OCCUPATION
Of Vera Cruz. after the iir~t feeling of re-
eminent and suspicion un The part ~ the
Mexicans wore Of. undoubtedly had a won
deriul effect ~ calming the situation Ia
the republic. ~ ~ far d- ~ attitude to-
wards foreigners. and particularly towards
Americans, Wa concerned. With an
American army III Vera Cruz. aud Amrri-
can battle~hJps anchored IA che harhor.
backed by am army al Galveston ready Ia
san 40 4 moment notice. aud \ Gordon M
our troops along The entire MeXican hnr-
der, the safety ~ foreigner "a Mexico wa,
assured, and the danger II further agyrr~-
SION ON the part of lluerta wa~ mnimiz.d
And undoubtedly, the continued pres
ence 81 the Americans w Vera Cruz.
coupled with WILSON, mistaken detemma-
tion not 70 recognize liuerta. had H. effect
m Fastening Che abdIcatIon 81 that would
be dictator. Meanwhile, peace wa~ as
anred Tor Vera Cruz. The cItN remained
untouched. while TN the remainder IA thr
country wa~ afflicted with the horrors Of
war. Y wa 2 haven II safety. not only
Tor foreigner. hut also for those M,vican-
who wished To- escape the civil strife ray
ma "a almost every other part ot the re-
public.
But, now that there + uo further need
~ holding IA, port. President Wilson ha-
very wisely dccided Z" rrmov, the troops.
The evacuation oi the port will be- accom-
pllshed without the lu~- AZ drnlt, N tbr
slightest degree. W. have W. quarrel with
Mexico. w have a" further business m
Vera tru1. III remain longer. w the fac,
81 the protr~Iatiou- VI respect ami friend.
mp by the leader Fl both factions OF thu
4 astltutionali~t-. would a. tu cnu~c \ los
~ The confidence NJ the Mcxican p,nplc.
aud could only result "a irritation on their
part l""Ad~ th- Americans. which might
cause unpleasant complications.
In the heht OF tins chapter of our conn
try's history, sc have cause Al rnurratu-
lat" ourselves upou TIE wisdom and con
wx~uf -. .I.H
dact ~ our government throughout this
peculiar and trying situations. sad Doubt.
less The Mexican people. when the, come
70 realize fully how the attitude ~ I'M.
country 50 surely aided II The elimination
Of fiuerta and FASTENED the end of III,
struggle. viii rriuirc that thr American.
came "a Vera Cruz.
4