The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-04-23

only to occur against representatives of
the United States. l nave heard of no
complaints from other governments of
similar treatment. Subsequent explain
atoms and formal apologies did not and
could not alter the popular impression
which it is possible it had been the OBJ
ject of the Huertista officer to create,
that the government of the United
States was being singled out and might
be singled out with impunity for sights
and affronts in retaliation for it's re-
fusal to recognize the pretenses of
General Huerta to be regarded as the
constitutions provisional president Of
the republic of Mexico.
The manifest danger of such a stu
alton was that such offenA might
grow from bad to worse until some
thing happened of SO gross and intoler-
able q sort as to lead directly and
inevitably to armed conflict. 1t was
necessary that the apologies Of Gen
eral Huerta and his representatives
should go much farther, that they
should be such as to attract the atten--
ton of the whole population to their
significance and such as to impress
on General Huerta himself, the neces-
sity, of seeing to it hat no further
occasion for explanations n profess
sed regrets should arise.
Il therefore felt 1t my duty to sustain
Admiral Mayo in the whole of his de-
rnanda and to insist that the flag of the
United States should be saluted in
sue a way as to indicate a new spirit
and attitude on the part of the
Huertistas.
Such a salute General Huerta has
refused and | nave come to ask your
approval and support in the course L
now propose to pursue.
Fight Only With Huerta.
This government can, I earnestly
nope, in no circumstances be forced
into war with the people of Mexico.
Mexico is torn by civil strife. If we
are to accept the tests of it's own con-
stltution, it has no government. Cen
eral Huerta has set his power up in
he city of Mexico, such as it is, with
out right and by methods for which
there can be no justification. Only
part of the country in Under his con-
troll. IL armed conflict should unhap-
PLY come as a result of his attitude
OF personal resentment toward this
government, we should be fighting only
General Huerta and those who adhere
to him and give him their support, and
our object would be only to restore
to the people of the distracted repub-
lie the opportunity to set up again
their w laws and their own gov
But l earnestly hope that war is
not now in question. l believe that l
ePedh lol the american people Wnen
! say that we do not desire to con-
troll, in any degree, the affairs of our
sister republic.
Our feeling for the people of MeXi-
co is n of deep and genuine friend
ship and everything that we nave so
far done or refrained from doing has
proceeded from our desire to help them,
not to hinder or embarrass them. We
would not wish even to exercise the
good offices of friendship without their
welcome n consent. The people Of
Mexico are entitled to settle their own
domestic affairs in their own way and
we sincerely desire to respect their
right. The present situation need have
none of the grave complications of in
reference If we deal with it promptly,
firmly and wisely.
mo doubt L could do what Isl neces-
sary in the circumstances to enforce
respect for our government, without
ecourse to the congress-, and yet not
exceed my constitutional powers as
president: but | don't wish to act in a
matter personally of so import
ance except in cooperation with both
the Senate and the House.
Il therefore come to ask your APP
proVal that | should use the armed
forces of he United States in such
ways and to such an extent as may be
necessary to obtain from General
Huerta n his adherents the fullest
recognition of the rights and dignity OF
the United States even among the dis
tressing conditions now unhappiiy OBJ
tanning in Mexico.
There can, in what we do, be no
thought of aggression or of selfish
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. We seek to main
tain the dignity and authority of the
United States only because we wish
always ~ keep our great influence IN
impaired Tor the uses of liberty, both in
the United States and wherever else it
may be employed for the benefit Of
mankind"