The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-07-31
WHAT NEXT?

ElCNSH IHOHtIlS ago the OnlIeQ
States demanded that Victoriano
Huerta resign as provisional presi-
dent of Mexico. We had previously
refused to recognize him. Now he
has resigned. But the moving cause
has not been any hreless ultimatum
from President Wilson or Secretary
Bryan. He has yielded only to the
increasing revolution He fees before
the victorious rebels. He has lost
his long fight against foes within who
have been aided and abetted by foes
without. Now Carranza and Villa and
the other rebel chieftains are to be
responsible for Mexico. The future
is not promising.
1t is to be presumed that American
troops and American ships will soon
be withdrawn from Vera Cruz. We
shall then have emerged without any
glory from a futile war which we be-
gun. We have not conquered nor
pacifed Mexico We have done moth
ing through mediation except to re-
treat from a position of belligerancy
which we bravely assumed and weak
ly abandoned.
We demanded an apology and a
salute from Mexico and we get no
salute, and we appeal to arms be-
cause the apology is not enough.
We incur large expense in moving
our forces to Vera Cruz and we tell
the world that we shall seek no re-
prisals and shall demand no repara-
ton for the heavy damage done to
American interests.
We view without concern the muir
der of Americans in Mexico and the
expulsion of other Americans from
Mexico, and we calmly notify the sur.
viving Americans that we can and will
do nothing for them, and that their
best course is to leave their homes
to the despoilers, and run.
We put an embargo on arms to
Mexico; then we take it off; then we
put it on again; and we wink at every
evasion that promises to involve us
in trouble about its enforcement, or
that appears to be OF service TO the
rebels.
We assure the nations in one breath
| that we are not at war with Mexico,
we say that we are engaged in war
of service" for Mexico; yet we appeal
to three South American republics to
help us out of the consequences OF a
war into which we have inevitably
drifted through our spineless diplom
acy.
We sacrifice seventeen lives of our
brave young Americans at Vera Cruz
and then are utterly at loss to know
why we did it, or what to do with a
victory thus dearly won.
We loudly demand an accounting
for the murder Of single English
man, Benton, and insist on the de-
livery of his body, and we promptly
forgot it when neither is forthcom-
ng; but we can find nothing to stir
our resentment or insure our protec-
ton when an American is slain by
Mexican bandits or Mexican soldiers
All we can do is to deny vainly thai
anyone was hurt.
We are rebuked and scorned in turr
by every prominent Mexican iron
! Huerta TO Carranza, except Villa,
hero of thousand murders. Yet we
permit our entire Mexican policy tc
>e controlled by the single fact thai
We believe-we do not know-tha
Hucrta committed one murder.
Now. because someone else has ap'
rarently ended the conflict with Huer'
"a which we provoked, we shall strike
our flag and abandon Mexico. Blu
what next? 1t cannot be imagined
government in Mexico under Car
rama and his quarreling generals
Oregonian.