Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-24
IL is War.

There is no use in anybody fooling
themselves in this day of widespread
information and intelligence about the
situation in Mexico. 1t is war, and not
only war; but war Of conquest.
The present situation is no ordinary
not inclined to doubt the sincerity of
President Wilson in the matter. On
the contrary, we believe he has from
the first taken broad, intelligent and
and that he was earnestly desirous of
keeping the United States out Of the
miXup. But it was not so the presi-
dent could have his way. The politi-
clans in Mexico had a say-so, and it
was to their interest to order things
otherwise. If it had not been for the
flag incident at Vera Cruz, it would
have been something else.
AS a matter Of fact, it is stated in
Washington that the administration
has it on good authority that the arrest
of the American boat crew was a de-
liberate frame up. Other equally de-
liberate breaches of respect had
been ignored, and it was clear to the
president and his advisers that it
would not do to put the matter off
any longer.
The common opinion among those
who are best acquainted with such
matters is that Huerta, realizing his
utter inability to dominate the Mexican
people, had in mind the idea Of provok-
ing the aggression of the American
people with the hope of bringing to-
gether the warning factions to resist
the invader. And there is little reason
to doubt that whether all Mexico
comes together under Huerta, or not
all Mexico will come together, and it
is war.
We do not think there is anything
else to look for than that the United
States is in for big job. 1t may be
that Huerta, Carranza, Villa and Ia
pata may not be able to rally the peo-
pie. 1t may be that they will he un-
able to get up more than very few
fairly respectable battles. This sug
gestion is made on the theory that the
Mexican people have but little conf
dence in any Of their present leaders;
but nevertheless the national pride of
Mexico is strong and the national ig-
norance is great, and because Of these
two elements, if nothing else, there
will be but small reconciliation to the
idea Of American dominition.
Even if the United States should
meet with but inconsequential resis-
tance at first, there will not be much
reason for looking for an easy job. The
Mexican idea of might and right is
very different from the idea that pre-
walls in this country, and the reform
of their political and economic ma
chinery. to say nothing of habits and
customs, so as to bring them to a state
that will admit Of fairly well founded
hope Of their being able to guarantee
to themselves and others the right of
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happi-
ness will be no small task.
Looking at the whole thing from
this distance in the light of past his
tory and present as well as future de-
mands, we see no other way for it
than that the United States will sim
ply have to reconstruct Mexico. I'm
less the government is reconstructed,
there will be no guarantee that the
same conditions that are making il nee
essary for the United States to go into
the country this time will no make it
necessary for the United States to go
there again, and understanding the
whole matter as it does, we don't see
how the United States can think Of
undertaking anything short of a thor
ough job.
But according to our view, it is go
ing to be war We are expecting that
it will be necessary for thousands and
thousands Of Americans to go down
into Mexico. 1t is reasonably certain
that they will have not little fighting
to do at first, and it is quite probable
that many Of our people will have to
shed their blood there. But with it all,
we think that after the spirit Of armed
resistance has been subdued and the
fighting is over, the real work will
have only just begun. The flag that
was insulted at Vera Cruz is very
likely to become the flag Of the people
in whose name it was insulted, and it
is not improbable that it will remain in
the country forever.