Bisbee daily review., 1915-09-16
MORAL HONESTY ABOUT MEXICO.

It may be taken for granted that the Mexican prob
lem win play important at least prominent
part in our next presidential election That means
that going to be deluged with an ocean OF
words about rights" responsibilities" duties" yer
sions and phrases which will in fact have very little
to do with the
There is one word which we may be sure we will
hear very little about and yet is the significant
word of all-Sexpediency".
Expedency is not a hgh-sounding word It has in
deed something Of shabby. sinister sound. If we
want be strictly honest with ourselves however we
must admit that attitude towards Mexico is in
spred greater extent by consideration of expedt
ency than by anything else
Financial honesty is enough thing, com
that take for granted in most of everyday
relations with other Moral honesty is far
virtue rare in individuals and must rarer in nations.
to ourselves we seldom care to frankly admit
motives by which actions inspired. Let be
candid for once in regard to this Mexican situation
short while ago the people the little republic Of
Haiti commenced numbering each other on little
Wholesale scale than usual every essential the con
dons in Haiti were identical with those in Mexico.
our interests in both countries also identical But
The Haiuans-had assass5bated president a
barbarous than usual the United States moved into
action with remarkable celebrity warships were des-
pitched, marines landed and Uncle Sans armed forces
took control of affairs without troubling their heads
about diplomatic representations A. B. c. negotators
any other form of moral suasion
There criticism this country Of that action
It was conceded to be the swes and best way TO save
The Haiuans from themselves and protect foreign inter
cst in The republic We all felt still feel that we
acting the interests of the distracted coun
try and settled down to enjoy the knowledge of our
virtues as the big brother of small nations that go
astray
But if our action in Haiti righteous and justified
why should similar action in Mexico be righteous
and justified? there then any difference between the
situation and conditions Mexico and those in Haiti,
Just Haiti is a very small place and Mexico very
big one. few hundred marines overawe the Hal
uans would take hundreds thousands of soldiers
control Mexico effectively.
That may be rather unpleasant way Of putting it
but who will deny that it is true surely we should not
sbirk facing it because it is unpleasant
This is no place for Intervention in Mexico or any
where else It merely protest basing action on hgl
moral grounds when it merely dictated by question
of expediency Does anyone doubt that if Mexico were
country of one million people instead Of fifteen mil
lions the size Of Island instead of bein
one-hrd the size of the United States we would hav
interviewed long ago?
Intervention in Mexico would be a tremendously cost
and bloody undertaking It would not be undertaken
every other possible expedient has failed
If We have to intervene We will do so; but in the nam
of common honesty, do not let pretend that hav
rerrained frons intervening from high philanthropy
from any other save the good and sufficient
oxpedency