New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-20
"Strict Accountability" in Mexico,


stone Had ne served in the Senate IN
Mr.. Clcvelands second term he would have
earned place among the White House
apologists whom that great and courageous
Southern Democrat John 7. Morgan, once
stigmatized as "cuckoos.
l.r. stone grasps al any straws-at any
areumeuts-to save the administration S
lace. however foolish those arguments
may appear in the light of what the Presi-
cent has already done Ii is the Missouri
Senator'S function just now 20 palliate IN
action in Mexico. And he is willing TO pal
late it even if he has to scrap the great
adventure Of Vera Cruz and the heroic
phraseoloey Of the first German C'strict
accountability') note.
Nlr. Stone Joins with the President and
Ny. Lansing in censuring the Americans
killed in Mexico as wilful disturbers Of In
ternational tranquility. This is the way
m which he tries to help them TO avoid re-
sponsbility for Americans who have de-
peuded upon their American citizenship
for protection-at least to a reasonable eX-
tent-whcn entering a foreign jurisdic-
ton:
II mon 20 down or Up or across nest o.
bandits. or among Indians who nave "hoii\
different measure o. international ethics' t"e|
are apt TO get into danger and sufer
This government no doubt IS under q Ger
tain litigation TO protect even The people who
do these foolish ,!iugs. but that does nor
lessen the foolishuess Of tho act. ] VIII say
low that when men DO things OF TINS Mnd
their rccklessness is. in way. crme
against tic American people. since 1t tends 10
involve our government and our people ln
danCcrous controversies.
undertake 10 assert that the President Of
The United States would have no right TO or
der an invasion of Mexico. He would subject
himself TO impeachment If he did.
If the Americans who have remained IN
Mexico or who have recently gone back to
Mexico committed a crime against the
American people. the Americans who took
massage TO Liverpool ON the Lusltanla com
mittcd similar crime. When the Lusl-
taria massacre occurred Nh Stone was at
first inclined to agree with Mr.. Bryan that
those VINO persisted persisted through their
own fault. But hc changed front quickly
when he found that ON that point Mr.. Wi
-.. H.. i...,,,.,.,,. With Mr. R1van.
~ =, ,ra. unwilling to admit
.oenlv that hc had meant nothing when he
.,,,,a,,nco5 +bs, h.. would hold Germany to
..strict accountability" for American lives
taken in violation of international law and
the rules of civilized warfare at sea. lie
,..,, not ready 10 confess that he was only
,n.l,lc;,c IN cbeap comedy when he re
l.lod Count Won Bernstorf for warning
Americans not 20 travel ON British steam
.h,,s IN view Of the fact that the State
I,,sr,nent had assured Americans that If
,.ould 90 TO the limit of "strict accounta
I.1ty" in dcfordirp their right to ,rayc
ON unarmed Allied mcrchautmen
=, 10 inst 49, fooH h to saw that Ameri
cams who have remained i'm Mexico or gone
iuto Nc>ico have committed "A crime
IN aaair.t the American people a. to say that
W Gin. American victims. slaughtered ON The
fl.,tauia committed such crime Wher
over the American citizen goes he retain:
fine rights inherent d. his citizenship. Our
government cannot wash its hands of hin
and treat him as am outcast and an eX
patriate. Il camot with honor say to him
Come home, II You don't come you VII
forfeit my protection lie cannot o'
.rlppcd thus of his natural status Al
irrcduciblc minimum of 1t remains
lu us Mczicau policy the administration
has steadily ignored this lrreducole nm
lmum. If has not merely lett Americans
.n ihc lurch. 1t has also taught MeAlcah'
o. an classes, from ,I'c po"'ie"' i''Oe'
down 20 the Io"es' i"quI anu P'o"' ~
ocspise American eI'lzehsnlP anu u'
power and authority "hich once s'oou oe
band American citizenship.