Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-19
STAMP OUT THE RATHER


Now trying to talk 10 the snake itself
But you can't reason with ra'tlcsnake
| THE rattlcsnake on the coat at-of-arms OF
i Mexico isn't an accident. IT is fact. II
stands for half of the Mexican character for
the anarchy that bursts out in Mexico and
destroys the crust Of civilization ON the
coat-of-arms the serpent is held tight by
an eagle which is brother TO the eagle of the
United States In actual fact the serpent
| has gotten away
This isn't the first time and it may not
he the last For hundred years the United
States has watched over Mexico, helping her
to independence, making every effort to treat
! her a responsible State. Time after time
| the eagles grip has gone loose, and the
! United states has been the first to suffer
In the past the action of this Government
| has been effective only when it was certain
and quick. The lesson of century is that
Mexico is a wayward child, which mistakes
indulgence for approval and hesitation for
cowardice. If the present Administration
could find time to read the documents of its
predecessors, it woul find bright light for
it's path.
Other Presidents have pointed out that
path. but Andrew jackson points with a
sword in his hand. The man who almost pro-
voked war with Great Britain by putting
two of her citizens to death in Florida in 1918
not the man to strain at imbroglo
with Mexico. He not too proud TO fight,
and when all other means had been ex-
hausted he wrote to Congress:
The injuries the repeated and
avang applications for redress the wan
ton character of some of the outrages upon
the property and persons of our citizens
upon the officers and flag Of the United
states would Justify in the eyes of
all nations immediate war I recon-
he
reprisals
President jackson was not cynical when he
put the word property" before persons. In
1897 there Benton murder there
no Nergara assas assination, there were no
seventynine British and American citizens
unaccounted for, there were between 1911
and 1918. The insult TO the flag was not
Tampco. nor were the injuries to national
honor as grave as those which have discred-
tied the United States since the domination
of Huerta. jackson asked for reprisals be-
Mexico had refused TO pay claims
which were admitted to be just 1t was a
question of money-and our right!
Politics was as rich a game in Jacksons
time II is today, and the reprisals asked
were not made It remained for Van Buren
to continue negotiations and for Polk to end
them. The war with Mexico is the most spec
tacular step in the history of the two coun-
tries: but. like many spectacular things, 1t |
has lesson. If lesson is TO be learned. |
it is from President Buchanan, certainly the |
least aggressive, the least warke of men. |
He was no fire-eater, but he wrote TO Con-
gress:
our citizens residing in Mexico and our
merchants trading thereto had suffered
series of wrongs and Outrages such
have never patiently borne from any other
nation Indeed so confident had the
Mexican authorities become of our patient
endurance that they universally believed
that they might comnIiS these outrages
upon American citizens with impunity.
Then, now. there rebel and con-
stitutional element in Mexico Buchanan
urged armed and immediate Intervention in
favor of the constitutional authority, shut
ting off the danger of European meddng
ending the revolution and safeguarding
American citizens.
The one thing which this country can spare
itself is continued study of the motives be-
hind our attitude toward Mexico. Unques-
tonabIy they are high-minded The fact
that twenty-sX Americans were killed last
week without the slightest disturbance OF
WashnEtons calm and quiet is sufficient
proof of that. The country must discuss
methods. not motives.
We have learned what Organism in states
manshp means. I'VE being murdered
and property taken from u.s." cried
Americans. "Then get out" was the answer
of Mr., Bryan, as Secretary of State. I'VE are
going TO enthrone humantaransm and
Utopianism in Mexico If every American there
resident has TO be butchered during the
process" seemed to be the Administrations
program, permeated as it was with Bryanism
What is the result? One murderer has
been driven out and has died in exile
bandit has been recognized in his stead. But
another bandit, his revolution in the throes
of dissolution has deliberately set about the
murder of American citizens designing
to induce intervention.
1t is evident that Vera Cruz should never
have been evacuated. 1t should have been
held a hostage for good behavior.
We are unprepared for intervention, but
that would not deter us were it the wise
course. II never has in the past.
But there is one course which Washing
ton can take, and should take. The Carranza
Government should be notified that recogni-
tion of il implies its ability TO protect Ameri-
can lives and property. that any further fail
ure on its part TO do will mean the sending
of an expeditionary force into the bandit
country TO compel law and order.
That force should be sent with or without
Carranza's consent, in the event of further
The boundary lines of Mexico can be re-
spected only so long as there is respect for
American rights within those boundaries
AMERICANIZATION