The Detroit times., 1915-11-06
Our Mexican Policy
~ on. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1918. by Frank Crane)


On the 10th of October, 1915, Ven
ustiano Carranza was formally recog-
nized as the chief executive Of the repub-
lie of Mexico by the governments of the
United States, Brazil, Chill, Argentina,
Guatemala, Bolivia, Uruguay, Colombia.
and Nicaragua.
Thus was settled for a while at least,
and for better or for worse, the long
state Of anarchy in which Mexico has
fioundered.
The present administration has been
severely criticized for it's Mexican policy.
Bellicose statesmen have roundly cursed
Mr.. Wilson's program Of watching and
waiting" 1t has been declared that he
has made this nation ridiculous in the
eyes of the world by not vigorously pro-
tecting its citizens. And so on.
Let us see. What about the other
way? Suppose We had plunged at once
into war in order to avenge the loss of
life and property incurred by Americans
in Mexico.
A number of our citizens have been
killed or outraged as it is; but if we had
gone to war that number would have
been increased by thousands.
Property has been destroyed, but by
war a thousand times more property
would have been consumed.
The Mexicans, high-spirited folk.
now have to thank us for finding q way
out Of their difficulty. They cannot re-
gard us as foes. If we had invaded their
country we should have lighted undying
hate. Not for years would the bitter
ness have passed, no matter what the
issue of the conflict.
Now some factions are antagonistic to
us. If we had gone to war the whole
population would have hated us.
By our actual policy We have recog-
nized the right of the people of another
state to settle their quarrels in their
own way. Should we have gone to war
we would have been champions of the
questionable theory Of one nation inter-
fering and imposing its will upon anoth-
er, simply because Of superiority in
arms.
AS it Is, we have stuck to the princi-
Piles of democracy; by war we should
have adopted the autocratic ideas of Eu-
ropean nations.
In settling the matter we have invited
the other American republics to counsel
with Us. So doing, we bespeak their fell
lowship and cooperation We fatter
their self-respect. We insure their good
will. We lay the ghost of United States
conquest.
Had we declared war at the outset, as
the hot-heads wished, we should have
alarmed and antagonized all Latin Amer
lea. We should have stood for pride,
violence, and force, instead of forbear-
ance Cancellation. and wisdom.
We may be laughed at by European
statesmen because we did not ut once
draw the sword But looking at the hor-
rible pit in which Europe is now fallen
we can well afford their jibes
While Europe is ablaze our President
has set good example of what per-
severing kindness and courageous self
restraint can do.
81 never knew Of war;" said Grant,
"where the issue could not have been
better settled some other way" Mr..
Wilson found the other way.
The kaiser would stand no nonsense.
His sword flashed. The world must be
taught that Germany is not to be trifled
with!
Would you swap Wilson for the
kaiser?
Taking it all around, we prefer the
policy Of the plain American gentleman,
whom we hired for a four-year job, to
the high and mighty Hohenzollern
whom Germany never hired and cannot
GET rid Of