The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-04-28
City was withheld by the telesraph,o

by our charge d'afraires In person.
$50 far as | can learn, such wrongs
and annoyances have been suffered to
occur only against representatives Of
the United States. l have heard Of
no complaints from other govern
ments of similar treatment.
u. s. Singled Out for Insult.
Subsequent explanations and for
nal apologies did not and could not
alter the popular impression, which, 1t
Is possible, 1t had been the object Of
the Huertista authorities to create,
that the government of the United
States was being singled out, and
might be singled out with immunity.
for sights and affronts In retaliation
for its refusal to recognize the preten-
sions of General Huerta to be regard
ed as the constitutional provisional
president of the republic Of Mexico.
THE manifest danger of such sit
uation was that such ofrenses might
grow from bad to worse until eorae-
thing happened of so gross and intel
cradle a sort as to lead directly and
necessary that the apologies of Gen
eral Huerta and the representatives
should GO much further, that they
should be such as to attract the atten-
ton Of the whole population to their
significance and such as to impress
upon General Huerta himself the ne
ceseity of seeing to 1t that no further
occasion for explanations and pro-
fessed regrets should arise
81, therefore, felt 1t my duty to sus-
tain Admiral Mayo, and the whole Of
his demand and to insist that the flag
in such a way as to indicate a new
spirit and attitude on the part. Of the
Huertistas.
Such a salute General Huerta has
refused, and / have come to ask your
approval and support in the course l
now propose to pursue.
This government can, | earnestly
hope, in no circumstances be forced
into war with the people of Mexico.
Mexico is torn by civil strife. If we
are to accept the tests of its own CON
stitution it has no government. Gen
eral HHerta has set his power up in
the City of Mexico, such as it Is,
without right and by methods for
which there can be no justification.
Only part of the country is under his
happily conse as result of his atti-
tude of personal resentment we should
be fighting only General Huerta and
those who adhere to him and give
him their support, and our object
would be only to restore to the people
tunfty to set up again their own laws
and their own government.
Hopes War Is Not In Question
But l earnestly hope that war is
not in question. believe that l speak
for the American people when l say
that we do not desire to control in any
degree the affairs of our sister repub-
lie. Our feeling for the people of
Mexico is one of deep and genuine
friendship, and everything that we
have SO far done, or refrained from do
ing, has proceeded from our desire to
help them, not to hinder or embarrass
them. We would not wish even to ex-
ercise the good offices Of friendship
without their welcome and consent
The people of Mexico are entitled to
settle their own domestic affairs In
their own way, and we sincerely de-
at IN Z OF II OH 10
situation need have none of the grave
implications of interference II we deal
with it promptly, firmly and wisely.
mo doubt | could do what Is neces-
sary in the circumstances to enforce
respect for our government without
exceed my constitutional powers as
president; but l do not wish to act In
q matter possibly of 80 grave conse-
quence except in close conference and
house.
Use Arms as Necessary.
II, therefore, come to ask your ap
prevail that l should use the armed
forces of the United States in such
ways and to such an extent as may be
necessary to obtain from General
Huerta and his adherents the fullest
recognition of the dignity Of the Uni
ted States even amidst the unhappy
conditions Now obtaining In Mexico.
There can in what we do be no
thought of aggression or Of selfish ag-
grandizement. We seek to maintain
the dignity and authority of the Uni
ted States only because we wish al
ways to keep our great influence unim-
paired for the uses of liberty, both in
the United States and wherever else
1t may be employed for the benefit of