Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-29
HOW TO HANDLE MEXICO.

MEXICO is again DuDUlluS OVci'
Rather it would be more accurate to
say it is yet bubbling over for there is
no question but what the scum has
been rising to the top in that Ill
fated country for several generations
past. Furthermore there is little like
lihood that there will be any change
If the change is to get its impetus
from within the republic. If the fac
tons now threatening each other come
to blows, it is likely that after an
other bloody struggle, Carranza will
follow the Mexican rulers who have
preceded him in the last few years and
there are but two paths away from
power in Mexico-death or exile. And
the paths that have led to power are
blood and corruption.
President Wilson has been criticised
for his "watchful waiting" policy,
thought by some to be too pacific and
he would be severely criticised If he
brought on a war with the Mexican
people, even in the interests of peace.
It ia the belief of The Courier that
there Is middle course which will
bring about the desired ( results IN
Mexico. What is needed there is edu-
cation of the ignorant masses to a
point where they can govern them
selves. Until that is accomplished,
there will be war and bloodshed, revo-
luton and rebellion, misery and pow
erty in the fair land of Mexico. The
United States has the incentive, the
right and the power to stamp out dis
order in Mexico in short order. Let
the president announce to the people
of Mexico that they are being misled
by ambitious, selfish leaders; that the
United States purposes to take away
the power of these men to do evil;
that peace is to be assured by the
presence of an American army and
that the citizens of Mexico can best
help themselves by letting the Ameri-
cans help them.
Then let the United States put de-
tachments OF troops in every state and
important town in Mexico. Let these
soldiers be nothing more nor less than
policemen, constantly on the lookout
evolutionary type. And under the cover
of this military protection let modern
schools be established and teachers
brought in from the United States,
men and women who understand the
Mexican tongue and who could not
only teach the youth of Mexico their
letters" but also inspire in them a
respect for authority, a love for free
dom, civic pride, and knowledge OF
the true fruits of civilization. 1t
would not require the life of a whole
generation to create new Mexico.
The children returning to their homes
from school would soften the present
generation and educate it to know
what real freedom Is. A generation
from now and a revolutionary leader
of the stamp Of Villa, could be turned
loose with perfect assurance on the
part of the authorities that there
would be no ignorant, shiftless, riot
pus mob to become an army for his
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
The trouble with Mexico is that the
not know that liberty is restraint and
people there are ignorant. They do
that license is not liberty. With the
United States assuring peace In
Mexico, immigration would add to the
Intelligent, DESTROYS population = the
fertile lands would attract people from
Europe which is bound to emerge
deeply SCARED from the war now on
there-and the Mexican people would
cease to be mostly Indian and half
breeds and become better mixture.
In other words, Mexico would be CIV
'lized and saved.