Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-04-30
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS.
Contributed
THE MEXICAN SITUATION.

II 49,
this country has become involved in a
serious difficulty with the faction-rent
republic to the south of u.s.; after a
season of watchful waiting covering
a period of nine months. That our
great apostles of UNIVERSAL peace have
actually been drawn into a blood?
conflict is, indeed, appalling. But
sufficient unto the day, is the evil
thereof" and when the Mexican dicta
tor refused to atone for his unbeara-
bic affronts to- the United States fag
Immediate action became necessary,
if the president could hope to save
the country from humiliation. Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary Bryan have
been averse to intervention all the
while, but circumstaces alter cases
and the unwarranted arrest of Amert-
can soldiers at Tampico, and the re-
fusal of provisional President Huerta
to make the amends honorable, are
the straws which broke the camel's
back.
Admiral Mayo was prompt in his
demand for an adequate apology and
Ier it be known that nothing short of
saiuting the stars and stripes, by the
firing of twenty-one guns, would ex-
Plate the offense against the flag. The
Washington government acquiesced in
the admiral's request and when Huer-
ia positively refused to accede to the
demands all hope of a peaceful settle
ment of the issue was abandoned and
the administration could not do 9TH
| erwise than seek redress by an ap-
peal to arms.
Had n otEer course been pursued,
this country would have lost its pres
tige abroad and spoiled the Mexicans,
besides. Foreign governments would
| have at once concluded that the Uni
ted States could not be trusted to
! protect their interests and information
al complications would have been the
inevitable result. In short, the presi-
dent could not afford to permit Huer-
| ta's officers to trample on our flag,
nut our uniformed men in dungeons
and send insulting messages to admir-
| ais of the United States navy. And
this is the reason Admiral Fletcher
was instructed to take possession of
tie customs house at Vera Cruz, and
for his action in Selling other Mex
can possessions In that vicinity a few
| DAYS later. 1t is apparent that the
American people generally support
the presidents view, and trust him M
plicitly to handle the unfortunate stu
alton wisely. OF course, there are a
few who will declare that going to
war is nothing short of q crime against
the nation and against humanity n
this class are going to do all in their
mower to discredit the administration.
The president. and Secretary Bryan
have attempted nc concealment of
their purpose to avoid intervention If
possible, and their attitude is not
pleasing to those who agree with SEN
atcr Root and Senator Lodge in their
| conclusion-that Mexico is in such a
| terrible state of turmoil, that SO man,
American have been murdered there,
aud that we have suffered so many I'M
re6ressed wrongs, this country should
have gone to war with the whole of the
republic (so-called) long g
supplanted, by our armed forces, all
authority there, whether of the de
f4cto President OF. constitutional lead
ers. But those who share these views
will be the last to volunteer for SER
vice on the field of conflict should the
call OF their country come to them.
Ic congress the real warriors seem
to be confined to an inconsiderabIe
number of republicans who are con-
trclled more by partisan feeling than
.bv patriotic motives. None of them
have dared to question honesty or the
sincerity of the president in the posi-
ton he has taken, but a desire fol
party advantage has led a few mem
bers of the minority 10 support the
Lodge substitute resolution which
would commit the country TO WARMTH
Mexico on a much bigger scale than
this country has ever dreamed. How
ever, the president knows his own
mind and is thoroughly capable Of
handling the situation as it should be
done. He has taken congress into his
confidence and is receiving the support
accorded by that body to PresidentMc-
K1nley when the Cuban trouble arose
bin 1898, the opposition of republican
"ieader" Mann to the contrary, not
W~ithstanding.
The entire Mexican program was
Immediately placed in the Presidents