The Republican journal., 1915-01-21
"WAICHFUL WAITING"

cats down in Mexico, where anarchy pre-
walls and there is nc protection for life
or property. Meanwhile President Will
son and Secretary Bryan continue their
"watchful waiting" undisturbed by the
murder of Americans not only in Mexico
but on our own border. If this condi-
ton continues much longer foreign in
PREVENTION may be expected. This is
indicated by recent editorial in the
London Times, which expresses the hope
that the British Government will again
draw the attention of the United States
Government to the magnitude of British
interests in Mexico, to the extremely
heavy damages sustained, and particu-
larly to the loss of British lives. The
Times says that President Wilson at
indianapolis advanced the singular
claim that Mexico, as a free country,
has as good right as any European
Power to spill all the blood she pleases
in settling her domestic affairs" Con-
tinuing, the Times remarks: "The course
of events since Huerta was eliminated,
therefore, seems to have considerably
shaken American optimism. American
action has contributed nothing to the
restoration of peace and order in Mex
ico."
Senator Lodge, who sided with the
| President on the free tolls issue, and who
is said by the New York Sun to be
"above the pettiness of partisan or pol
itics," attacked President Wilson S
Mexican policy in the Senate recently
during review of the urgent deficiency
bill. The error of the administration S
course, he said, had begun with the
refusal to recognize Gen. Huerta on
moral grounds rather than on the broad
err international grounds on which it
could have been based.
''The spectacle of the United States
at war with Victoriano Huerta," SEN
ator Lodge said, twas not pleasing
one for Americ ans to contemplate.
Of the occupation of Vera Cruz Sem
ator Lodge said he had been told the
Presidents agents had advised him there
would be no resistance. When it came,
he added, the administration did not seem
to have much stomach for the unexpect-
ed fight and took shelter beneath the
American embassy"
With the departure of Huerta Sen.
Lodge said the object of the President
had been accomplished, but the policy of
the United States had not advanced one
step.
"What has been the condition in Mexi-
CO since? Our two allies, Villa and Car
rama, fell to fighting. What is the COR
dition in Mexico today? Anarchy is too
polite name for it. The social order
has collapsed. l fear it is too late now
to adopt any policy unless it be mill
tary occupation, which all of US would
deplore.'
The senator asserted 200 American
lives had been lost in Mexico without re-
paration "being secured or demanded. =
"Fifty-two Americans recently have
been killed or wounded on the border at
Naco," the senator continued. "Gen.
Scott said that if there was any more
shooting there he would stop it. There
was more shooting after this declaration
and he did not stop it. Knowing Gen.
Scott as l think do, l am inclined to
think he may have been prevented from
stopping it.
1.-The treatment of Americans is re-
voting story, unfortunately only too we'll
authenticated. The situation was so
b ad when Pres. Wilson delivered his last
message to Congress that the only way
in which he could treat it was with abso-
lutte silence.''
In speech at Indianapolis which many
regard as a bid for a second term Presi-
dent Wilson made statements which have
brought much deserved criticism upon
himself and his party. 1t was felt upon
the Republican side of the Senate Cham
Der that a reply should be made, as the
President had chosen to arrogate to him
self the power of understanding out
of his party any member of Congress
that failed to support the measures he
favored, and that duty devolved upon
Senator Borah of Idaho, whose carefully
prepared address is regarded as the reply
of the Republican party to the taunt of
the President that ''the Republican party
has not had a new idea in thirty years"
and to his astonishing declaration that
1--WE should not deny the right to Mexico
to spill as much blood as she pleases in
settling her affairs" The Presidents
Indianapolis speech also drew fire from
the Republicans on the House side of the
Capitol, Representative Humphrey of
Washington launching an attack on the
Democratic policies generally. The tariff
! aw he contended, had thrown 4, 00O, 900
people out of work, and he declared
business depression was no Estate of
mind" And the Boston Transcript has
this to say, editorially:
7