Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-10
1NTERNAr1oNAL LAW AND OUR RIGHTS IN MEXICO.

LAW AND OUR RIGHTS IN MEXlCO
Americans generally recognize the present of almost
universal hoste to be of the most critical periods in
history regards this nations foreign relations 1t is
comparable to two other crises: First the medtated at
tempt century European powers in the name or the
"11oy Alliance" of Russia, Austria and Prussia and later
including France to restore the sovereignty of Spain over
her revoted American provinces and Russas ambition to
broaden her American sphere of influence which called forth
from President Monroe the declaration known as the
Monroe Doctrine Second the attempt of Emperor Napoleon
III of France and other European rulers to take advantage OF
Civil War to establish in 1868 Emperor MaXmlian
Austrian achduke Mexico and thus extend the European
system to this continent in violation of the Monroe Doctrine
The constitutional government of President Juarez
fused to recognize the validity certain debts contracted in
Europe by nsurectionary government under Mramon
which had been recognized by various European
England France and Spain, acting in behalf of their re-
specve creditor subjects agreed take joint possession Of
certain Mexican ports and to collect and apply the revenues
to the payment of these claims stipulated that neither
power should seek to gain territory.
AS the foreign troops landed at Vera Cruz the
port which has figured prominently during recent
occupation the Interior designs of the French
became evident whereupon England and Spain withdrew
The United States continued to recognize the government
of President Juare and as Civil ended
large force of American troops concentrated the Rio
Grande to forfy demands for the withdrawal of the
French army Of occupation, which followed.
Maxmiian, in trying to maintain his sovereignty, de-
creed death to all who resisted it, and taken in
against him ncontinenty shot This doomed him to
the fate his defeat capture and execution following
promptly.
Our right to interfere in Mexico upon
mental principles. First the Monroe attained
all the significance and recognition of international law
AS the founder of that principle is the duty of the United
States to that condition arises which will warrant
European power in ruthessy attempting to set aside the
Monroe Doctrine and thus pave the for European
croachment American soil and for the consequent mper
ing of those interests the Monroe Doctrine formulated
to protect.
In tha tho and tvOfe1 10
guaranty protection for the lives and property of it's c
everywhere warrants whatever steps by the Wilson adj
mnstraOn necessary these results in Mexico
When country has established and responsible gov
eminent, in the Of Germany call upon that
eminent for the recognition of the rights of nations at
and hold the established accountable for any
inracon of international law and for the violation Of
rights neutral power.
In Mexico there established government and it is
difficult matter to deal with the situation adequately and
effectively In the of Civil War, there at
tempt the part of States to secede from the Union in
spite of the maintenance of federal government at Wash
ngtOn and foreign could deal with that
The Mexican republic is the present VICTIM not Of at
tempted Of part of the States but of repeated
outions connection with the federal rule itself which have
in effect wiped out all sembance of effective central
ment
The situation in Mexico at the present time is far
serious than when England France and Spain thus to
collect debt from the Mexans The rights of all
onates resident in Mexico have been ruhlessy violated
and few including Americans have been killed under
the most aggravating circumstances.
In all human probability the European powers would
have insisted action either by the United States
themselves long this but for the breaking out of the
present great in Europe Our nation has passed
through long period of "wachfu waiting The time has
when patience with Mexican violation of rights of
persons and property of American residents Mexico
no longer be regarded as national virtue
On the other hand the revoluonss and counter revou
onists in succession have been given every reasonable
poruny and to establish stable
Mexico but that goal far distant than when
Madero overthrow the of Daz and uerta in turn
usuped the of adero Villa has ceased to be the dom
mating figure he time and has lost whatever
Use of established power he possessed
The Mexican conflict to have degenerated into
struggle between rival bands of guerrilla halfbreeds
and Indians personal ambitions of rival aspiring dca
tors the only and great principle at stake while
the better class of citizens teorized and business inter-
ests seriously menaced or wholly paralyzed
Under all these circumstances nothing remains for the
government the United States apparently but to take
firm hold of the situation We must deal with Mexico just