Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-05

Foreign representatives: Cone. Lor-
engen & Woodman, Mailers Buiidlng,
Chicago; 225 Fifth Ave. New YORK
City; Gumbel Bldg, Kansas City, MO-
WAR.
Confusion seems to exist as to the
definition Of the word war" The
Courier has taken the position that
only by war" can peace be brought to
bleeding Mexico and The Courier uses
the word war in the sense that nations
use It, that Is to imply the use Of an
armed force invading a foreign terri
tory to bring about certain result IN
that territory. The Courier would
have the United States intervene IN
Mexico; would have the country polio
ed and partially governed by soldiers
where they were needed; would keep
our soldiers there until by moral
suasion, example and education, the
Mexicans are made capable of proper.
ly governing themselves. There need
be fought no great battles; there need
be no effort to take away from the
Mexicans their civil authority except
insofar as it interferes with the policy
Of Intervention; there need be no hold
ing as prisoners Mexican soldiers; nor
need there be many of the acts that
are usually thought of in connection
with war. The whole Of Mexico could
be occupied much as has been Vera
Cruz The United States could take
possession, drive out those who &C.
tually resist and treat as friends those
who, though armed do not actually be.
gin hostilfties.
Yet even though no life was snuffed
out. this policy would be war in the
eyes of the world which has certain
we'll defined rules as to what consti-
tutes an act OF war. The seizure OF
Vera Cruz by force as means to COM
pel the salute of the American flag as
demanded by President Wilson, was
"a measure short of war" in the cate.
CORY of international law: that Is the
United States had taken the very last
available means to secure PREPARATION
for an insult without declaring actual
war. The same international law for.
bade that United States soldiers should
march or ride Inland from Vera Cruz
and sefze the railroad bridges pos.
session Of which would furnish means
of ready access to the Mexican capital.
That. says International law, would be
an act Of war on the part of the United
States. International law further stip-
ulates that Mexico might II it SO desil-
ed. choose to look upon the seizure OF
Vera Cruz as an act Of war, but Is not
compelled 80 to do.
Summing up, it would be an act OF
war for the United States to undertake
the coercion of the various factions OF
Mexico in the interests of peace.
The other meaning which may be ap-
piled to war" conveys the idea OF Of
fersive military operations, the seizure
of towns, the defeat and dispensing OF
soldiers and imprisoning them, and the
assumption of all authority so that one
nation becomes conqueror and the
other the conquered. 1t is too true that
this is what war too often means and
1t is sincerely to be hoped that the
United States does not engage in that
kind OF war with Mexico. The aim
of American Intervention should not
be to fight the Mexican people, but
merely to assert domination In such
measure az will permit Mexicans as
we'll as foreigners who live in Mexico,
to dwell In peace.
sooner or later II there Is to be peace.
the United States must bring it about
and by such acts as will be called
war but that there should be san
culinary battles with the people of Mex
leo on one side and the soldiers OF the
United States on the other, is the last
wish OF the collective judgment of this
country.
The talk that It wouldn't be war for
the United States to step into Mexico
with armed men for the purpose Of
ousting ambitious and ruthless leaders
in order to restore to the Mexican
people their liberty and peace, is not
in accord with the way history will
record such action. 1t will be war
whether or not the resistance OF the
Mexicans is of any consequence. II 1t
Is not war 1t will be only because of
utter lack Of resistance in the same
manner that 1t wouldn't be fight If
some heavyweight boxer spanked a
little newsboy. If the United States
undertook to seize Germany to restore
peace there in case there was a fight
among the Germans, there would be
q real war In hurry and It would
have all the emphasis that General
Sherman put into his definition of war.
Lack of resisting power will not
make it any the less war, technically
speaking, if we invade Mexico.
That we will come to Intervention
eventually is presaged in the news dis
patches of yesterday. The people OF
Vera Cruz-the substantial members
OF the communicative already learn
ed that American occupation of their
city has brought them greater degree
Of safety and liberty and better bust
ness conditions than they have enjoyed
heretofore and they are in favor of in-
PREVENTION right now. The same is
true OF many other representative and
responsible Mexicans in other parts of
the country. A portion of the popula-
ton will welcome us.
The effort at mediation, while it is
commendable, is nevertheless useless