The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-09-30
Colonel Harvey on "1'he
Tragedy of Mexico"
he Editor of "The North American Re-
views" Impressive Indictment of VIII
sons Mexican Policy.

views" Impressive Indictment of Viii
sons Mexican Policy.
An impressive indictment of the Ad-
ministration's policy in the conduct of
the Mexican situation is contained in
George Harvey's remarkable editorial
in the September North American Re-
view, entitled "The Tragedy of Mex
ico." Colonel Harvey traverses the en-
tire Mexican affair, from first to last
logically, unsparingly, convincingly. One
of the notable features of his arraign-
ment is the publication, for the first
time anywhere, of the official affidavlts
upon which the order for Huerta's ar
rest by the United States Government
was based. These afidavits, which are
of extraordinary and curious int rest,
are published in full. Concerning Presi-
dent Wilson: personal responsibility for
the dreadful fiasco which has resulted
from our Mexican policy, Colonel Harvey
writes as follows: .
Wilson's ejaculation and Stubborn Pride"
while it is impossible to withhold from
the present Administration primary re-
sponsibility for the deplorable and far
reaching consequences of fatuous and
futile vacillafion, the genesis of the
fault must, in all fairness, be accorded
due consideration. Nobody has ventur-
ed. and none now would venture, to
question the excellence of President Will
sons intentions. Throughout all of his
backing and filling, his repeated inter-
vening without making his interference
effectual, his alternating laying and
lifting of embargoes, his vague threat
enings promptly rendered abortive by
assurances that he would not employ
force, his subsequent using Of the army
and navy upon an absurd preteXt, only
to withdraw them at the moment when
restraining influence was most needed,
his petulant defying of public journals
which were only performing their duty.
his prospective chuckling as the one who
laughs last, his cynical abandoning of
both Mexicans and Americans to their
fate because, forsooth, Europeans also
were spilling blood, his strldent pledging
to leave the tortured country alone and
to compel all others to do likewise, only
to resume meddling as soon as disfa-
vored faction seemed likely to gain as
cendancy throughout all of these turn
tent doings there has never arisen doubt
Mexico and to serve mankind.
"The crux of the Presidents blunder-
ing is to be found in his misconception of
his own functions. Impressed by his I'M
precedentedly quick elevation from col
iege professorship to the most exalted
political position on earth, convinced of
~ Of tho no uyh
fascinating articulation had charmed the
people, flushed by his success in subordi-
mating a co. ordinate branch of the Gov
eminent to his will, isolated and feared,
he unconsciously but inevitably assumed
the attitude of one divinely appointed to
conserve humanity in new and striking
ways-and forgot for the moment that
he was a quite fallble and far from ON
nipotent being, who in reality had only
been elected President of the United
States, charged with the performance of
certain official tasks specifically defined
by fundamental law.
1T was but natural therefore, that
when the time came he should attack the
Mexican situation as Regeneration of
the morals and ideals of a people, in
stead of as an executive whose obliga-
ton was limited to the safeguarding of
the lives and properties of those whose
Chief Magistrate he had become. To
pronounce such an aspiration blame
worthy would be most unjust;it was only
mistaken. For the methods employed,
moreover. there seemed to be ample war
rant. If Congress of the United States
could be brought under subsection by
merely pointing to the rod, surely no
insecure Government of comparatively
insignificant country could withstand the
process -