The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-09-21
Ridiculously Untrue.
The Claim that the President has "Kept us
out of War;

WASHINGTON, ~. u, sept. 10, 1910.
Claims that President Wilson has kept
US from becoming involved in the Eu-
ropean war, and prevented war with
Mexico, are SO ridiculously untrue that it
is amusing to those who know the facts.
What are the facts about the Presi-
dents keeping US out of war;"
Congress voted him free hand up to
the point of declaring war with Mexico
How did he use that power? His refus-
sal to recognize Huerta as the de facto
President as was done by European ma
tons, encouraged the bandit chiefs to
continue their guerrilla warfare. Since
then his Facilitating policy. putting on
embargoes one day and lifting them the
next, supporting one faction today and
another tomorrow, debating who should
not be candidate for the Presidency of
Mexico, and his meddlesome meddling
generally, caused originally by his per-
sonal antipathy to Huerta, which was
based on an uncomplimentary remark
about him by Huerta, prolonged the rev.
olutions. The net result is that our sis
ter republic is in anarchy and ruins.
Lives of hundreds of American citizens
have been needl essly sacrificed.
President Wilson committed two acts
of war against Mexico, Notwithstanding
the explanation that they were directed
at individuals and not at Mexico. One
punitive expedition was for the avowed
purpose of compelling Huerta to fire a
salute of twenty-one guns to our flag; a
number of American Marines and Next
cans were killed al Vera Cruz, the sup
ply of note paper at the White House
was exhausted, but the salute was not
fired. The second punitive expedition
was after the raid on Columbus and was
to ''get Villa dead or alive" Villa still
lives and is at liberty. Scores of Amerj-
cans and Mexicans have been killed.
The President favored Intervention in
Mexico. With martial valor he marched
right In and turned around and boldly
marched right out again. Today he saws
he is opposed to intervention, but so far
as Wilson's policies are concerned. "no |
one knoweth what the morrow NAV
bring forth" One day he was ready to
recognize Villa, the next he would have
none OF him. He called for a confer
ence of the Mexican factions to estab-
llsh a de facto government and select
provisional President, but said he would
not recognize the leader of any faction
that failed to attend. Carranza was the
only leader that refused to pay any at
tention to the conference and President
Wilson has recognized him as the de
facto ruler
II we had had firm, wise statesman
III the White House and an able diplomat
as Secretary nf State the Mexican revo-
lutions would have been ended more
than two years ago; the Vera Cruz Incl
dent would not have occurred; the Ma
tional Guard and the Regular Army
would not now be modified on the border: i
the two sister republics would be living
oAtC Ny oluc III pedCG anu dLQlCV.
A wise statesman with firm and def |
mite policy in the White House. and an
able diplomat as Secretary of State, can
bring order out of chaos in Mexico even
at this late day. What we did for Cuba
we can do for Mexico when we have
statesmen in control who think straight
and act right, and who don't confine
their efforts to uttering platitudes and
talking In circle.
In handling the Mexican situation the
Wilson administration has invariably
"done those things it ought not to have
done and left undone those things it
ought to have DONE"
The President has reiterated and his
mouthpieces have claimed repeatedly |
that he is entitled to the credit of "keep-
ing US out of the European war;" that
many persons accept the statement as
true. Neither the Allies nor the Central
Powers want the United States to be-
come involved in the conflict. That has
been demonstrated time and time again
by Germany and England's diplomatic
handling of delicate situations that have
arisen between their governments and
ours caused by the administration
bungling. Nothing can involve US in
| that conflict unless we deliberately cease
to maintain strict neutrality. Germany
is interested in keeping US out of war on
| account of her interned ships, and NUM-
| lions from this country that filter to her
through the neutral nations that sur
round her, and Great Britain thinks we
are of more benefit to her as depot of
supplies than we would be as an ally, u.s.
| ing all of our munitions and food stuffs
ourselves.
On two occasions the President nearly
involved US with Germany. On both Of
those the Committee on Foreign Affairs
OF the House ana Senate, supported by
the attitude of Senators and Representa-
lives, and backed by public opinion OF
The Penalty for