The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-10

for the opening episode and the eli
max Of the chapter Of history which
narrAtes the share the United States
has had in the displacing of q claim
ant ruler OF Mexico. they would be
the recall OF Henry Lane Wilson. who
tried to commit his government TO
recognition OF General Ifuerta as
president and Victofiano, Huerta's
own departure from the same capital.
The summons Of the minister to
Washington was the first distinct in
d'cation OF the purpose Of the United
States as TO the provisional president
with doubtful credentials, and Gen
eral Huerta's going IL its fruitage.
The two events are precisely year
apart. 1t was on July Is, 1918, that
Minister Wilson was recalled. ana II
was on July IS. 1914. that General
Huerta abandoned the city where he
had undertaken TO maintain his an-
thority against the disdatn OF other
governments.
Between the two events lies the de-
velopment OF q new sort OF policy
BY government towards disorder
ly and disordered neighbor. Minis.
ter Wilson's arrival in New York
where he gave out his opinion OF the
duty Of the United States. his con-
ference At the White House and his
appearance before a committee OF
tho senate. comp1ised the focal event
from which rapidly developed great
crop OF discussion, demands on the
one hand for recognition OF General
Huerta as a real president, on an
other for armed Intervention, and
still another for entire avoidance OF
the whole matter.
President Wilson's Message.
President Wilson's message. read In
congress on August Fl. was the sig
nal utterance of the administrator
purpose not to intervene. not TO recog.
nize the man who had assumed the
presidency Of Mexico but to aid In
bringing about a restoration OF or,
der there. II was thu answer &c
General Huerta and at the SANS
moment the answer to the cry for
Intervention. which had found ex-
preston In tho Peurose resolution to
send tho army into Mexico, and
which the senate finally rejected.
Having planted Itself sQuarely on
the ground OF non-recognition. the
administration OF PRECEDENT Wilson
Is seen In the subsequent events TO
have proceeded with determination
that was much clearer a. 10 Its pur-
pose than as to the steps by which
Il waa to- he brought ahest--4he
ssndinE OF John Lind to Mexico city
which Immediately followed the re.
turn Of the minister, was the indica-
iion Of tho intent " be closely watch
full OF affairs there and to bring about
the removal OF General Husxta by
peaceable means.
Mr.. Lind's mission. as II Is seen
in later observation. was to persuade
the claimant president to yield. and
failing that. as 1t did. to keep Wash
cpments 1t had chance to snow
its value when. on October 10, Gen.
eral Huerta put his congress under
arrest and proclaimed himself die
tatof. and President Wilson was pre-
pared to respond by q fresh declara-
ton not to recognize him or to at
.taclT value to the election which ii
was proposed to hold. 80
Criticism by the Press.
The steadfastncss Of President Will
con to HIS policy. even though un.
der constant criticism in the Ameri-
can press. which gave. General
Nuerta ground for his proclamation
that the people of the United States
were not supporting their president,
was shown anew In his message OF
December 8. when he coined the
phrase. '.wRtchful waiting" happy
description but one that gave the
critics OF the administration phrase
made use Of for ridicuie.
Congress at this time was In an
apparently less favorable mental
state u to this policy. but subsequent
events brought about yielding to
the presidents way. Meanwhile the
governments abroad had been turn
Ing to Waahington for leadership.
This Garden incident of. October was
followed by Premier Asuuith's decla-
ration 81 support Of President Wilson.
while France had refused to continue
financial aid to Huerta. A. late as
March. senator Fab. of Now Mesiee,
made q ytkorcus specchv demanding
Intervention ana deMouncing the
watckfui waiting policy. but at no
moment has congress- either put a
bar In the way Of the presidents
course or undertaken to hasten his
History win next make note OF the
events OF April. 1914, when an In
suit to American sailors at Tamptco
On the 9Th, lad the presidcnt to sup-
port the demand Of Rear Admiral
MAYO for an apology In the form o.
q salute. IT, ordering OF the Atlantis
squadron 10 Vera Cruz. the ulum1tum
10 HuSftA and the inesaage t0s con.
isrese o. April ~. asking 4or the ~
4 N n Z: ~ n, - ~ - ~ $3.50 4
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