The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-03-28

forces of military power which are ex
hibited in Europe from laying hole
upon the vast territory and PRACTICAL,
undefended wealth of the new world
Have we still national ideals? vii
anybody live for them? Would any
body die for them? Or are we all fol
ease ana comfort and wealth at any
price? Confronted by such questions
as these and the practical situations
which give rise to them. is the coun
try satisfied to trust itself again in the
hands of the Democratic party?
Impotent Interference In Mexico.
The United States had rights and
duties i'll Mexico. More than 10000 of
our citizens had sought their fortunes
and made their homes there. A thou
sand millions of American capital had
been invested in that productive coun-
try. But revolution had come, and
factional warfare was rife. Americans
had been murdered, American proper
ty had been wantonly destroyed, the
lives and property of all Americans In
Mexico were in danger. That was the
situation when Mr.. Wilson became
president in March, 1913. His duty
then was plain. 1t was, first, to use
his powers as president to ecure pro-
lection for the lives and property of
Americans in Mexico and to require
that rules of law and stipulations of
,1o tioc char11d ho ahcnrrad hr AoviNC
toward the United States and its citi-
zens. His duty was, second, as the
head of a foreign power to respect the
independence of Mexico, to refrain
from all interference with her internal
from all attempt at DONNA
ton except as he was justified by the
of nations for the protection of
American rights. The president of the
United States failed to observe either
Of those duties. He deliberately aban-
doned them both and followed an en-
tirely different and inconsistent pur-
pose. He interviewed in Mexico to aid
one faction in civil strife against an
other. He undertook to pull down
and set Carranza up in his
place. Arms and munitions of war
we're freely furnished to the northern
forces and withheld from Huerta.
the president sent u army
md navy to invade Mexico and cap
.ure its great seaport, Vera Cruz, and
lold it and throttle Mexican commerce
Until Huerta fell.
Americans Outraged In Mexico.
The government Of the United States
interviewed in Mexico to control the in
ernal affairs of that Independent coun-
.ry and to enforce the will of the
American president In those affairs by
threat, by economic pressure and by
of arms. Upon what claim of
light did this Intervention proceed?
Not to secure respect for American
lights, not to protect the lives or prop
,rty of our citizens, no to assert the
avs of nations. not to compel observ-
lnce of the law of humanity. On the
contrary, Huerta's IA the only power
Mexico to which appeal could be
made for protection of life or property.
That was the only. power which, in
act. did protect either American or
european or Mexican. 1t vas only
the territory where. Huerta
'uled that comparative peace and or
Ter prevailed. The territory over
which the armed power Of Carranza
md Villa and their associates extended
vas the theater Of the most appalling
Bands of robbers roved the
country with unbridled license. Amer
cans and Mexicans alike were at their
mercy, and American men were MUIR
Tered and American women were out
aged with impunity. Thousands were
educed to poverty by the wanton de-
truction of the industries through
which they lived. Yet the government
# the United States ignored. con
Ioned, the murder of American men
nd the rape Of American women and
destruction Of American property and
to American officers and defile-
nent of the American flag and Joined
tself to the men who were guilty of
II these things to pull down the pow
of Huerta. Why? The president
imself has told us. 1t was because
e adjudged Huerta to be a usurper.
ecause he deemed that the common
eople of Mexico ought to have great
+ participation in government and
hare in the land, and he believed that
'arranza and Villa would give them
nese things. We must all sympathize
nth these sentiments, but there is
more dangerous than mis-
sentiment.
When our army landed at Vera Cruz
himself, who was to be the
lief beneficiary Of the act, publicly
rotested against it. So strong was
lie resentment that he could not have
ept his followers otherwise. When
had fallen the new government
-hich for the dav had succeeded TO