The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-24
OUR ENGLISH ADVISERS


was to have been expected. At the
time Of the Venezuela dispute, the Lon
don journals were much less respect
ful than they are now, and even when
the United States WAS on the verge of
the Spanish war some of our British
critics were wantonIy severe, in spite OF
the fact that English sentiment was al
most wholly in our favor.
When it became apparent that the
United States was about to intervene
in Cuba, most of the English newspa-
pers were friendly, but the Saturday
Review of London described the
United States as socially sordid to the
last degree. and as having "contrib-
uted nothing TO the self-respect OF hu-
lnanity. On the contrary, it has shown
all the world to what a depth of pub
lie depravity civilization is capable OF
descending OF President Mckinley
il said: MIR. Pecksniff, rebuking
vanity and selfshness, never struck a
more beautiful altitude
The present relations between the
United States and Mexico are not wide
" different from the relations which
existed between the United States and
Cuba in 1898. When we went to war
with Spain it was not solely nor even
chiefly because the Maine had been
blown up and hundreds OF American
lives sacrificed When President Nc
Kinley sent his special message to con-
gress on April IL, 1898, he asked that
secure fplI and final termination to
hostilities between the government of
Spain and the people Of Cuba and to use
the military and naval forces of the.
United States for that purpose.
Sin the name of humanity, in the
name Of civilization, in behalf Of en-
dangered American interests, which
give us the right to speak and the duty
TO act, the war in Cuba must stop, -
he wrote. 1.-The issue is now with con-
gress. 1T is solemn responsibility.
have exhausted every effort 70 relieve
the intolerahle condition of affairs
which is at our door. Prepared to exc
cute every obliga ton imposed upon me
by the constitution and the law. await
your action
The main difference between the sit
ustion then and now is that there is
no American desire for intervention at
this time, whereas in 1898 the American
people were clamoring for war AT
that time all of the European nations.
not even excepting the government of
Great Britain, hoped that the United
States would not intervene. Their in
terests were not at stake TO any great
extent. Mop it is their interests rather
than ours Tat are at stake. and SO we
find the English newspapers holding the
United States responsible for the an
archy IN Mexico. The London Times
admits that England has no legal com
plant under the principles of interna-
tional law to make against President
Wilson, "but, - it says, "to refer us to
Huerta for satisfaction for q crime per
petrated by the chief rebel in arms
against his government is one of
those legal techuicalities which border
on cynieism.
The Daily Graphic contends that the
United States is responsible for Villa IS
good conduct, and says that if it re-
fuses to intervene, "President Wilson
must not complain if in self-defense
Great Britain and other aggressive pow
ers take their own measures for the pro.
lection Of their large interests in Mex
ico -
If the European powers could rightly
contend that we had no justification for
making war on Spain to end an
archy in Cuba after the Maine
had been blown up and two officers and
264 enlisted men had been sent to
their death, by what right can they in,
sist that we should make war in Mex.
leo now because one British subject has
been executed after trial by court
martial7 The anarchy in Mexico is not
nearly as Objectionable, 30 far as the
United States is concerned, as was the
anarchy in Cuba fifteen years ago.
1t is true that the foreign powers
have considerable excuse for complaint
and might be justified in taking mill
tary steps to protect the lives and prop
crty OF their subjects, but it is signif
cant that the English believe the
+ United States should exhaust its re
: sources before the European powers re
sort to- Intervention. This is tacit
recognition Of the Monroe doctrine ano