The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-02
more thoroughly carrying out q system
already there prevailing.

OF subjecting us TO liabilities toward
any foreign Power by reason Of wrong
full acts having been committed against
the subjects OF such foreign Power out
side the dcminions Of the United States
but within this hemisphere and not
punished by us.
1t would seem that in the lack Of
such an amendment the Constitution,
Notwithstanding its strong provisions
and the clearness Of them. wsuild re.
main precisely as hitherto always. in
effective for our protection against sly
dernagogues and against that still
greater danger which turks In the we'll
meant purposes Of persons, ofYlcial AMI
uno6icial. either imperfectly acquainted
with the spirit and letter II the Con-
stitution. or Of a temperament united
to draw q clearly marked line between
on the one hanG those things which
may be done by private effort in q
peaceful manner and which would not
be in disobedience to the laws Of the
country where done. and on the other
hand those things which cannot I've
done except by the United States. and
by them not constitutionally nor ex-
cept through warfare.
Nothing In that amendment would be
oppressive. Nothing would be punt
tive. It would not make the Consti-
tuition bear any more heavily upon i'm
beetles than 1t bears now. II would
show these how they might seem to
be, or perhaps might become less I'M
beetle. 1t would leave the door open
for repentance to all but the hardened
and determined sinner. 1t would turn
to a good use an appetite for ONCE.
which In itself is not bad, although It
has with us. for lack Of confinement.
become injurious and IL now highly
dangerous. The amendment would
cause not only all occupants Of office
but also all aspirants to do what n team
of horses could not as yet drag most of
them to the doing of-make an actual
study Of the Constitution in regard to
what may lawfully be done with the
public money and what It IL wholly
unlawful to do.
Our present embarrassment may per-
haps be turned about in such a way as
to disembarrass us forever Of q truly
Internal nuisance. 1t may prove a
happy conjuncture at which 1t will be
meet for US to point out TO all other
nations. and to those Of our people
who need to have 1t pointed out to
them. that the only purpose Of our
citizens in the present war Is to pro-
tect from outrage the American nag
as represented In the proper persons Ut
American citizens who were alive or
who still may be alive within Mexico.
at any point therein without refer.
ence to location. and If possible, to
procure, and IL not then to administer.
lawful punishment upon any who may
have injured. dishonored or destroyed
them. That. In the happy words Of
our noble President. I'VE do not desire
to control In any degree the affairs Of
our sister republic" Of which the citi
zens ARE entitled to settle their own
domestic affairs In their own way"
That it is not our purpose to exert d.
rectly or indirectly an influence in favor
Of either Mexican party as against the
other, or to bring either party toward
any step except the protection Of our
citizens and the punishment Of all
persons who have injured them. The
moment is favorable one to point out
that instead Of claiming to be suzeraln
or arbiters upon this continent, we do
not desire this Office. nor would we
assume 1t under any circumstances II
offered, nor undertake any Of the dis
gusting duties which the performance
Of it might make necessary. That
our Constitution fOrbids 1t and for
bids also the employment Of public
money either for the defence or for
the welfare of any but citizens Of the
United States.
Such an announcement would be only
fair to foreign nations. They have
evidently been misled by expressions OF
opinion on the part Of persons wholly
unauthorized to speak; or II by ex-
pressions Of opinion on the part of
some member or members of the au-
thorized body. still not by the opinion
Of that body itself.
1t might be peculiarly useful, should
our good President find 1t useful to ac-
cept the offices OF any nations for me.
diation, that these were some Of those