Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-03

Foreign representatives: Cone. Lor-
enzen & Woodman. Mallers Building,
Chicago: 225 Fifth Ave-. New York
City; Gumbel Bldg, Kansas City, Mo.
THE STRANGE CASE OF MEXICO.
Sen. Beverage in recent speech
gave the following ideas on the Next
can situation:
This administration found de facto
government stronger than any since
the regime of Diaz. That government
had been recognized by Great Britain.
France, Germany, Russia. japan, and
other powers, upon the advice of their
seasoned diplomatic representatives
who had long been on the ground and
knew the facts. Yet the administra-
ton did not content itself with refus-
ing to recognize this de factO govern
ment. but ordered it to dissolve with
out a successor to take its place. The
administration did this upon the pre-
text that the de facto Mexican govern
ment had not gained power according
to the constitution an" l"-'-~ 90
country and that the de facto prest'
dent was stained with cl4n-e. -
since then the administration has non
chalantly recognized government In
Peru set up in q single night by force
and murder.
On purely moral grounds, these pre-
texts would make us the arbiter in
every contested change of govern
ment on earth and involve us as the
deciding party in every revolution that
occurs in any land. Unless 1t be ad.
mitted that we have peculiar inter
est and special duty in Mexico, the
theory on which the president says
he acted would have required US to
interfere in the bloody changes OF
power that have recently taken place
and are still taking place in China. II
the pretext that Huerta held the presi.
dency through intrigue and bloodshed
is q sound reason for the administra-
tion's action. then the American gov
eminent ought in like manner to have
demanded that the King of Servia quit
the throne to which he had been lift
ed by murder and conspiracy-unless
It be admitted that we have peculiar
interest and special duty In Mexico.
If the administration answers that
China and Servia arc far away while
Mexico adjoins our borders and that,
therefore, We have an interest In and
owe . duty to the neighbor country
which we do not owe to distant lands,
It condemns 1t own conduct. 1t aban-
dons the moral ground for its action
because morality does not depend up
on distance. It admits that We have
q peculiar interest and . special duty
in Mexico, because 1t Is adjacent to
US.
Did not our ordinary interest and
common duty in Mexico require that
American lives should be safeguarded,
American property protected. Ameri-
can rights upheld? Was not = gov
eminent necessary in Mexico strong
enough to do these things7 And when
such government no longer existed
did not our sacred duty and supreme
interest demand that we provide law,
order and competent authority?
But the administration looks upon
Americans in Mexico as shifty adven-
turers. their Investments as dishonor-
able hazards. their rights as fraudu-
lent claims. Yet every American in
Mexico went there on the invitation
of that government and with the sane
ton OF ours. In the last thirty years
almost q billion dollars Of American
capital has been invested In Mexico.
It was this money that developed Mex.
Kan resources. It was this money
hat built Mexican railways opened
Mexican mines. operated Mexican
ranches. and gave employment to Mex
lean labor at wages many times higher
than II ever had received before.
Along with this capital went thou.
sands Of Americans. They took their
families with them. They were not
Wall Street exploiters or gamblers of
fortune. They were miners, ranch.
men engineers. railroad men, mer.
merchants. traders and teachers They
were of the same stock as our pion.
GERS who carved from what was once
a part of Mexico the noble common.
wealths Of Texas and Utah, Nevada
and New Mexico, Arizona and Cali
fornia.
American investments were made
and American citizens established
themselves in Mexico under guaran-
tee Of safety, and upon the faith that
over them was the shield of the United
States. They had reason for that
faith. not only because to protect the
lives and property of their citizens in
other lands is the settled and accept
ed policy of civilized nations. but also
because the American government in
solemn treaties with Mexico enacted
the condition that American life and
property in that country should be Sc
cure. When there was no longer any
government in Mexico to fulfill those
obligations 1t became our duty to re-
store law and order not only to safe
guard American rights. but in the high
interest of civilization itself.
There are hundreds of millions IF
European capital in Mexico and many
British and German subjects. If Great
Britain. France and Germany had not
been at war the whole world knows
that they would have said to us:
take charge of Mexican affairs ana
restore law and order. If YOU do not
do this We Will do 1t ourselves" And