The citizen., 1914-05-01
FRIDAY, MAY 1. 1914.
WAR WITH MEXICO.

The taking Of the seaport of Vera
Cruz on the Atlantic coast of Mexico by
the United States last week and the kill
ing of five United States marines and the
wounding of about thirty, and the kill
ing Of three hundred MexicanS, is the
first step in a war with Mexico. While
this step was one greatly to be deplored
and war with Mexico still more to be
deplored, the enlightened sentiment Of
all theuations ofthe whole world give great
credit to the United States and also to
President Wilson and his Democratic
cabinet for their patience and forbear-
ance shown before they felt forced to
take this step, made absolutely necessary
by the indefensibe and inex:usable con
duct of the deiacto President Huerta Of
Mexico. This government has no i'll
will to the psople Of Mexico, but On the
contrary the people of the United States
have only the best and most kindly feel
ings for the people of Mexico. We
think the people Of Mexico are deceived
and misled by Huerta who is a design
ing, ambitious and selfish usurper who
obtained by gross treachery and decep-
tion upon Madero, who he had murdered
in order that he might become the despot
Of that unfortunate country. The United
States has the confidence and support of
all the great nations of the world in the
course it has followed This nation does
not need Mexico or any part Of it, nor
does it want Mexico or any part Of it.
Nor do we want anything that Mexico
has. We are already large enough and
perhaps too large. Cur country is not
half filed up, and its resources not half
developed, and these conditions will re-
quire all our time and thought to our
own affairs, Besides the vast majority of
the people Of Mexico are not civilized, and
all sorts Of lawlessness and immortality
prevail to an alarming extent and that
will not, and cannot be a civilized nation
for at least two centuries. Unless the pao
pleof Mexico become a civilized people and
cease its constant internecne strife and
revolutions, and the practice Of its gross
immoralities, something will have to be
done by the other nations Of the world Of
civilized people to put an end to the
reign Of terror in Mexico But we don
want to have to do it. For this country
to 20 to war with Mexico would be like
taking candy from children. That un-
happy country has neither the men nor
the money to fight the United States.
Many Of its best men have been killed
or driven into exile in the last three
years And even if it had the men and
the money it has no arms or ammuni-
tion to fight and if we take its best sea-
ports they can't get food. They raise
but little food, aud less than usual in the
last three years because of constant
war, and they would in all probability be
want and suffering in six months Then
the unfortunate women and children
would be the greatest sufferers. And
the people Of the United States don t
want to be responsible for such suffering,
but it would be inevitable in case of war.
Three of the South American nations
have offered to mediate the difference be
tween this country and Mexico to which
we readily and gladly gave our consent,
and advices today inform that Huerta
of Mexico has also consented This
mediation is result devoutly to be
wished and is wished by all good Amer
ican citizens. Besides all else the cost of
such war would be immense and Mex