Semi-weekly herald., 1914-05-04

Waver. lie Is Stlll ODes5eu ny nis oiu
detestation of Huerta, and he cannot
realize that this is not personal
spat between two individuals, Wood
row Wilson and victoriano Huerta,
but a conflict between two nations
involving vital issues.
The navy has taken Vera Cruz and
is in position to follow up this ini-
tial triumph. To reiterate the rea-
sons for such course would be to
waste good white paper. But the
announcement comes from Washing
ton that the president and his advisor
from the Chautauqua circuit have de-
cided- to sit down and watchfull wait
for something to happen. They con-
slider that it is Huerta's next move.
II he murders few Americans or
burns their property, or wipes his
feet on the American flag, these ar
dent lovers of peace will make an
other cautious move-and then sit
down and watchfully wait for some
sAithE CioC W ioPPShs
Much more remains to be done be-
fore the Mexicans will have learn
ed their lesson. Respect for Ameri-
can priestage and the American flag
Is still long way below par in the
country south of the Rio Grande, and
it will take more than the landing
of few marines at Vera Cruz to
bring it up to its proper level. Per-
haps the next outrage will arouse the
Indignation of congress to such a
pitch that it will force the presidents
hand, but as the case stands now, he
is wholly absorbed in personal
quarrel with man who, he says,
calls himself provision president Of
Mexico"
Brooklyn Eagle: The arms we have
been so liberally furnishing the Mexi-
can rebels may now be used against
the United States troops. Ingrati-
tude is often the sequel of generosity.
Baltimore News: One may draw
very nice distinctions between war,
peace and reprisal. On may define
ad libitum the difference between an
individual, de facto government and
nation. But events are higher
authority than dictionaries or presi-
dents.
This country would like to believe
war with Mexico. But intaking Vera
Cruz was passed a gateway. 1t was
the gateway of Sherman's inferno, if
not Dante's, and the same motto,
Leave hope behind all who enter
here" has been traced in the blood
of American marines.
We cannot wage war subject to
compliance with our own plans by the
enemy or bring moral suasion to
bear to get him to accept them. We
are at war with all that there is Of
government in Mexico, and there is
enough of it to force us to set our
selves regretfully but resolutely TO the
task on hand.
Washington Star: The message
was not up to form. The president
labored. His expression was not Will
sonian. Undue emphasis was laid on
one episode, important and culmin-
ating as it stood in the general equa-
ton. Too many cooks interfered. A
better broth would probably have been
served had the president, ladel in
hand, stood alone over the fire.
But for all of that, the message
accomplished much. 1t marked the
close of the period of "watchful wait
ing" which should never have begun,
and which lasted far too long. Dur
ing the last twelve months we have
stood in jeopardy every hour.
While the president deprecates all
talk of war in the sense of invading
Mexico and restoring order by force,
and holding the country until the Mex
leans are able to resume the orderly
direction of their own affairs, the
popular Interpretation of what we are
now inaugurating is war. Real war
is the American, the Mexican and
the European expectation.
New York Sun: The job is laid
out for us and the American people
are going to see it through. They
are going to stand behind the presi-
dent and the flag. There may be
much less enthusiasm manifested for
the president and the flag, but there
won't be any copperheadism. There
is no use in looking backward just
now or in discussing past blunder Of
policy, theory or action. There is no
use at the present time of picturing
might -have-beens or in attempting to
fix the responsible authorship of the
war. These questions must now be
left to history.
Springfield Republicans: In finding
himself war president, Woodrow
u