The Republican journal., 1914-02-19
The Truth About Mexico.

Ex-Ambassador Henry L. Wilson Tells of
the Situation There from Personal knowl-
edge.
New YORK, Feb. 6. Carranza was
characterized as a poor, feeble, silly old
man; Villa as bandit and murderer; "a
pata as an Indian thief, and Aquilar as a
cruel, bloodthrsty rascal by Henry Lane
Wilson, President Taft ambassador to
Mexico, before the Baptist Social Union
at the Hotel Manhattan. The deposed
diplomat ridiculed and eXcoriated the
Constitutionalist movement, saying thai
leaders and followers were using the sa-
cred named of liberty as a pretext for
loot and that they know no more and
cared no more about democracy than
Hottentots.
Mr.. Wilson said that he did not want
to criticize or denounce the President of
the United States, but that every citizen
had right to discuss American policies,
and that his opposition to President Will
sons Mexican policy had the support of
every European power, of the American
residents in Mexico, of every American
who knew anything at all about Mexico
or her people and of the two eX-Presi-
dents of the United States. The revolu-
ton now in progress is the same dreary
farce that has been enacted many times
south of the Rio Grande, said the former
ambassador, and it was absurd to think
that there were any decent ideas or ideals
back of it. 1t was his opinion that
Mexico would be similarly cursed until
strong man arose who could rule with
the iron hand of Porfrio Diaz.
Mr.. Wilson described the triumph of
Madero as an accidental victory of
dreamer too weak to govern, and his
downfall as the natural consequence of
bad government. Madero was migrate
full to the United States and Americans
were never so robbed and oppressed as
in his presidency, said the speaker.
When he mediated between Felix Diaz
and Huerta, Mr.. Wilson believed he was
doing the best thing possible for the in
terests of the United States and he said
he would take the same action again if it
had to be done. He repeated the charge
that Madero shot down four soldiers who
carried petition to the president just
before Huerta took charge. Concerning
President Wilson's policies he said:
| eff the Administration does have its
way and if candidate, approved by it
finally is elected as president of Mexico,
said Mr. Wilson, ''he will remain in
power only so long as the army and navy
of this country protect him. Practically
every man in Mexico will have dagger
out for the Anglo Saxon selected presi-
dent, and the minute that the American
Army and Navy cease to defend him will
be his last.
Then, if we are consistent, we may
not recognize another president whose
election is founded on bloodshed, and
must again install a man approved by us,
and his life, too, will be forfeited as soon
as he is out from under our sheltering
arms By that time we will have ac-
CURED the habit of setting up presidents
to be assassinated by people incensed
at our interference.
Mr.. Wilson said that Mexican history
could not produce ruler who would
measure up to the specifications of the
present Administration. Before the rule
of Diaz, he said, the hands of practically
every ruler had been dipped in blood.
President Pierce, who recognized five
! Mexican rulers had said in a message
i that the United States had no concern
with the character of the ruler OF anoth-
err country. This, Mr.. Wilson said, has
always been the policy of the United
States until President Wilson's day.
The change of policy under the Wilson
Administration he held responsible for
the killing of thousands in battle and the
| torture and assassination of thousands.
These" he said, care not the fruits Of
statesmanlike policy; they are the results