New-York tribune., 1915-08-04
Mexico and Mr.. Wilson.

If the administration at Washington
has at last recognized that the situation
in Mexico is intolerable, a fact patent to
the rest of the world two years ago. there
Is cause for public celebration. If 1t is aoie
TO obtain the moral support necessary 10
action by cooperation with the A b {
mowers so much the better. The idea does
not invite instant approval nor give TOO
much promise. but as a sign Of action 1t
will arouse hope.
Mr.. Wilson'S Mexican policy has been
complete and humiliating failure. 1t has
cost American lives, it has ruined Ameri-
can prestige in the Latin-American coun-
tries. it has exhausted the patience Of Mr..
Wilson's fellow countrymen, and 1t has
been void of all but evil consequences.
From the outset Mr.. Wilson has seemed
unable to face facts. He has permitted
himself to indulge in the vainest of all self
delusions. that which ascribes to fehcitous
words a potency which they never had
and never can have. He has seemed to
believe at all times that the Mexican
storm could be abolished by fine phrases
and vigorous vocal championship OF abb
stract moral principles.
With every desire to deal fairly with
Mr.. Wilson's foreign policies, The Tribune
has been unable to discern in his Mexican
dealings the smallest indication that he
had a settled policy or genuine compre-
bension Of the Mexican fact. 1t saw IN
the Vera Cruz episode one of the most
humiHating chapters IN all our history.
Nhv we went to Vera Cruz, if we were
shortly to scuttle out; why we acted vio-
len+Iv. if we were to repudiate the action
by prompt evacuation, remains an unsolved
mystery.
How much of the Mexican fiasco can be
ascribed TO Mr.. Bryan is, Of course, prob
lematical. If Mr.. Bryan's departure is
followed by the same improvement in the
handling of the Mexican question that has
been shown in the German affair Mr.. Will
sons countrymen will feel that the respon-
sibility was considerably Bryan's But
even here Mr.. Wilson's share will remain
unmistakable.
No nation was ever more patient more
tolerant of governmental blundering, than
the American people have been IN the
Mexican affair. But this by no means
conceals the fact that a greater fraction
are not only disguised but ashamed Of the
part this country has played in the affair
and are eager to see the smallest evidence
Of the adoption Of any sane and settled
policy.
We went to Mexico "to serve mankind
if we could find a way" to use Mr.. Will
sons phrase. We sneaked out of Mexico,
having lost some American lives, presu-
mably because we were unable to find that
u way to serve mankind Since then we
have watched and waited. Our watching
has been confined to the observation of
some of the consequences Of our initial
blundering; our waiting, apparently, like
that of Mr.. Micawber, based on the
pleasant hope that something would turn
up"
If Mr. Wilson has at last made up his
mind, if he has at last found a method
OF uedllNg WlIh -heNiCo OHaC ie VIII AOlIO"i
if he is finally convinced that words are
futile when revolutions are in progress
and literary incantations beyond the grasp
of Zapatas and Villas, so much the better
But those who hope most from this mira
Gle may be forgiven if they still retain
doubts they heartily desire to have perma.
nently abolished.