Evening journal., 1915-08-06
Mexico: The End of One Policy
and The Opening of Another
(From The New York Sun }

All signs indicate that the admin
istration is about TO begin a new
chapter of Mexican policy. That be-
ing so. the present is the right time
for The Sun to free its mind respect
ing the contents of the chapter now
closing, and to say plainly that which
millions of other Americans have
thought, and for reasons Of loyalty
have left unsaid during the past two
years and q half
II can be done in precious few
words. Probably history will never
be able 10 fix the precise apportion-
ment Of responsibility. as between
President Wilson and his former
Secretary of State for the miserable
conception known as "watchful wait
ing" We can only be sure that the
greater the share OF that RESPONSE
bility which Mr. William J. BRYAN
has carried away with him into the
outer darkness, the better for Wood
row Wilson and his place in the es-
TEEN of intelligent men. "Watchful
waiting" has meant scarcely more
than e. fictitious moral activity that
expended itself in words Of empty al
truism, and a practical passiylty that
has cost unnumbered American lives
and uncounted millions of American
investments. II is not The Sun s
purpose to 60 10 the extreme and to
say with some Of the critics of the
administration's amazingly unfortu-
nate course with regard TO Mexican
affairs that it was shaped mainly
by personal hatred OF Victoriano
Huerta, by an obstinate determine
tion not to recognize him in any event,
by a steady hope Of procuring his
downfall even at the risk of American
rights and interests, and likewise OF
Mexican welfare Unavowed motives
are not often susceptible Of proof:
we should be slow TO imputo such
unspeakable pettiness to any man or
set Of men charged with the exercise
of the nations power.
Results. however. are actualities.
and they can be measured; and the
results of these months of so-called
"watcbful waiting g'-these years OF
tatuous, inconsistent, unconstitution-
al, disastrous trifling in this repub-
lies relations with the neighbor re-
public to the south, in the name OF
uplift and in the nature OF downpun
are patent In the dire conditions
which mistaken judgment and ineflci-
ent diplomacy at Washington have
inflicted upon a people which might
otherwise have been as well off now
as ii was under Porfro Diaz's rule.
Turn over the page and shut out
from further consideration the follies
and mistakes and tragic consequences
of the Mexican policy of the past
NO citizen contemplating with eman-
cipated judgment the conditions to-
day existing south Of the Rio Grande
viii doubt that the time has come for
a new policy as different from watch
ful waiting" and Chautauqua exhor-
tation as a policemans club is from
q dictionary as common sense is
from sentimental claptrap, as Robert
Lansing is from William ] Bryan
The Mexican conditions call insist
emily for the long deferred perform
ance Of this governments purely self
ish duty TO itself and to its own citi-
zens; and Washington, all will OBJ
serve with profound gratihcation. now
clearly perceives the fact.
A positive, definite, vigorous course
Of action with regard TO Mexico
whether undertaken in cooperation
with the other leading republics of
the Western Hemisphere or pursued
upon the sole responsibility of this
nation, the nation most closely con
cerned, will meet with the universal