El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-04

not know, but, as was ineVlJaDIe, TINS
| break in the saturnalia of bloOdlettinE
and rapine was only temporary.
RaPine and PiIlage.
In the last few months the scenes
and characters Of the tragedy being
enacted in Mexico have shifted and
! changed with bewildering rapidity.
Presidents, generalssimOs, and first
chiefs have appeared in the spot light
for brief moment, to be rudely jostled
and displaced by other aspiring candi-
dates for brief and questionable nOto-
riety and authority.
Meanwhile the play has been con-
stantly enliyened by a Kaleidoscope
succession Of scenes Of major and mi
nor rapine, pillage, and outrage. Above
and over all has echoed and resOunded
the orchestra accompaniment of in
fautry and artillery fire and the re-
peated YOlleyings of murderous firing
squads.
Too Many Heads.
At least four, and nobody knows how
many more, individuals are now claim
ing, as president, first chief, or com
mander, primacy in this drama OF an
archy and chaos, while innumerable
lesser villains are valiantly contribut-
ing their share to complete the picture
Of desolation and despair.
With industry paralyZed, commerce
suspended, homes desOlated, cities de-
spoiled. ranches ruined, fields unculti-
and terrcrized, Mexico lies bleeding in
the midst of anarchy, her people men
aced by pestilence and facing starva-
ton.
Our Part in Mexico
These depIorable conditions in Mex
leo are at last universally recognized
and admitted, and more and more the
part which our policy has played in
producing them is being realized. From
an attitude of a patient tolerance with
the blunders of the administration
policy our people have gradually passed
through a period Of apology for the ad-
ministraton's policy to one Of clear
and well nigh universal disapprOval
and criticism Of it.
None seek to defend, but few to apol-
Ogize for what has been done and left
undone in our dealings with Mexico
while from every quarter are heard ex-
pressions Of regret criticism or con-
demnatiOn.
Result Of UnvviEe Policy.
In this state of affairs I am not
particularly disposed to further en-
pnasize or accentuate the now we'll
nigh universal disapproval OF the adj
ministration's policy toward Mexico. L
am not even disposed to assume the
attitude of one who with the best of
reason might, in the light of the pres
you So"
My only object in discussing the Mex
lean situation at this time is to point
out and accentUate the fact that pres
ent conditions in Mexico, so far as the
attitude of our administration has af-
fected and produced them, is not due
TO any fluke or mischance Of hard
luck or adverse fortune, but is the in
evitable result and consequence of a
policy which was unWise, un-American,
vicious, and indefensi5Ie from the start.
me eVll consequences which have fol-
lowed have merely come as a logical
and Inevitable effect
Our Blame Is Heavy.
In the address which / made on
February p last on this subject I ex-
pressed regret that my duty. as I saw
and understood it, constrained me to
criticise the administration in a mat
ter relating to our foreign intercourse
and relations.
I stated that I was only persuaded
to do SO because I felt that the policy
which the administration was pursuing
did not afford any substantial ground
of hope or element Of promise Of i'm
prOvement or solution of the conditions
and problems" which confronted US in
Mexico
further stated that 7 was per
suaded that the acts and attitude of
our government have had the effect OF
proIonglng and extending the lament
able condition Of appalling disorder
and distress which prevail in Mexico;
that the continuation Of our present
policy, or lack of policy. tends to re-
tard indefinitely the establishment Of
orderly conditions and constitutional
government"
further stated on that occasion that
as bad as conditions were in Mexico
they would. in my opinion. be in
fInitely worse If the aims and objects
apparently desired by our administra-
ton shall be accomplished and ex-
pressed the belief that under the policy
that we were following the reign Of
rape and rapine, of plumber and muir
der that have desolated northern Mex
leo and set il back a generation in
civilization and DEVELOPMENT will
spread all over that fair land"
Prey OF Rival Leaders.
In former discussion of the Mex
iean situation I expressed the opinion
that the inevitable outcome in Mexico.
owing largely to the attitude and acts
OF our government. would be that the
country after being SUCCESSFULLY dew
astated by the armies of the differ
ent factions, would become the prev
OF a number Of rival leaders, each
OF Whom would, in his own sphere
when not engaged in fighting the 9th
ers' busy himself with exhausting. for
MS individual benefit and that of his
immediate followers, the accunula-
ions and the resources of the particu-
lar territory over which he held brutal
and despotic sway.
Predictions Come True,
All these things have come true. and
yet am not a prophet or a son of