Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-27
Our Destiny IN MEXICO.

Only thus can the evils OF that benlgnted lanu De
curbed and its wild face turned toward civilization
The task is not one to be desired; it will prove
costly and arduous beyond reckoning. But it is a
matter of duty to ourselves to Mexico and to the
world. 1t is matter of destiny. The slaughter
of American troops at Carrizal may be eXtenuated
the cloud which has brooded so long upon the bor-
der may tighten for a brief season; the forbear-
which has INDUCED many wrongs may last
for weeks and months to come. But soon or late
the Stars and Stripes must move nexorably south
ward and Mexico must be made an American pro-
tectorate, to remain until its capacity for self
government is fully proved
For six years the United States has done its
utmost to avoid this step. With marvellous patti
ence and pity. it has brooked outrages which no
other power in the world would have endured.
On both sides of the border. its peoples property
has been destroyed and their lives sacrificed to
Mexican outawry. Conditions, far from improv-
ing, have grown continually worse until within the
last nine months they have become insufferable.
AS the latest note from Washington to Carranza
declares:
THE frontier of the United States along
the lower Rio Grande has been thrown into
state of constant apprehension and turmoil be-
cause of frequent and sudden incursons into
American territory and depredations and muir
ders on American soil by Mexican bandits.
American garrsons have been at
tackled at night, American soldiers killed and
their equipment and horses stolen American
ranches have been raided, property stolen and
destroyed and American trains wrecked and
plundered. The attacks on Brownsville, Red
House Ferry, Progreso Postofhce and Las
Peladas all occurring during September last,
are typical in these attacks on American terri
tory Carranzsta adherents and Carran-
vista soldiers took part in the looting, burn
ing and killing. Not only were these murders
characterized by ruthless brutality, but unciv-
ilized acts of mutilation were perpetrated."
There is no authority in Mexico capable of dealing
with these atrocities Indeed there is no con-
science capable of realizing their enormity. In
stead of cooperating with American forces to crush
the bandit gangs, Carranza has employed his own
troops in shielding the bandits and in menacing
and attacking the Americans. He has heaped
insolence upon treachery, and has repaid the
nest efforts of our Government support him in
restoring order and peace with repeated insult
and hostility.
Fatuous as Carranza's course has been, it is
broadly typical of that which any of his contem-
poraries lifted to uncertain power would pursue.
Senior Joaquin F. NJ. Beltran, for more than nine
teen years a member of the Mexic.n Senate and
now a resident of the United States, declares that
he can see in his countrys politics
"Only the ambitions of dozen leaders
some mere DanQltS, OJnerS reVOluJlOnlSJS acLu-
ated by the ease with which they can secure
riches through plumber, and still others politi-
cal demagogues whose idea is to foist
themselves into power over the heads of the
ignorant lower classes"
If there were any man in Mexico capable of han
ding the problem, if there were any promise that
the Mexicans could work out their salvation, it
would be we'll enough to give them unlimited
chance. But year after year the United States has
waited and hoped in vain for such development.
The time has to drop illusions and, facing the
hard facts of the situation, go forward with our
duty.
When one considers the condition and charac-
of the Mexica it is not surprising that
they have been in continual turbulence for more
than half century except for the tranquil interim
when Diaz their iron master. In population
of some fifteen million, thrty-seven per cent are
savage Indians, forty-three per cent are of mixed
blood, the baser element predominating and the
vast majority of them all are stepped in iiteracy.
Obviously, such people cannot govern themselves
until they have been schooled under intelligent and
sympathetic instruction. Democracy is not name
or a dream; it is a condition, and only those who
live its practical truths enjoy its blessings.
Mexico is no more republic than the darkest
Jungle of Africa is a republic 1t has freedom
to take away; it has only anarchy and barbar1sm.
Its present condition is not simply to those
within its borders, but menace to all America.
In these circumstances the duty and the ne"es-
sity of the United States are clear BY taking
charge of this hopeless land, We can establish or
der and peace where chaos and crime now prevail;
we can open the way to the development of natural
resources whose wonderful richness will bless Mex
leo and the world; we can lay the foundations of
liberty which otherwise will never be possible.
We can do for Mexico what have done for
Cuba. Haiti, Santo Domingo and Porto Rico. We
can protect and honor ourselves, and at the time
serve stricken people and press forward the from
tiers of civilization.
This will require irmness and persistence and
sacrifice. But its rewards in the larger reckoning
of history will be abundantly worth while. An
American protectorate for Mexico is the only feas-
ible the only just and lasting solution to the dark
problem which looms beyond the Rio Grande.