Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-25
SOLUTION 70 MEXICAN PRosLEM.

rs
When the congress Of the United
States passed the act declaring war
with Spain 1t included what was
known As the Teller amendment dis
claiming all purpose Of annexing Cuba.
The rest OF the world protested to dis.
believe in the sincerity OF the pledge
and predicted that at the END OF n
war the pearl Of the Antilles Quiz
become American territory. But the
United States after setting up Tree
Cuba got out.
When the first experiment In Cuban
self-government failed and the Unlted
States sent troops to restore order
and give the Cubans another chance
similar predictions were made. me
rest Of the world could not conceive
that this time We would forego n
chance to grab Cuba. But after awhile
our troops were withdrawn and since
then Cuba has been doing pretty well
on her own account. !.
When the United States found II
necessary to dispatch a body Of troops
"a help rescue the foreigners, includ-
ine it's own nationals, at Picking n to
nnnish the Boxers, the old world pow
ars expected the United States to Join
with them in tho permanent military
occupatton OF China. Instead, their
Mani were thwarted by our refusal
and hey rot John Hays open door
noY n With its respect for Chtna's ter
rMyrial integrity.
These comparatively recent episodes
IN our history oRer a precedent for the
latest and most acute development OF
the Mexican situation. They should
rive us confidence in ourselves.
Mexico's problems raise a question
whether it is beyond the power OF the
IJnitsd States to localize and segre-
rate anarchy across the border with
out having its good faith impunged.
National emotions, like individual
emotions. are sometimes irrational,
hut there has been nothing irrational
n the demand for = definite policy
herceforth. In extenuation or palha-
tion of the recognition accorded one
chief Of the revolution NJ against an
ether chief It may be urged that b
other a would have been equally
disappointing, that the president nao
only two wrong horses to choose from.
Granting this, the fundamenta prop
osition remains that the United states
cannot succeed in any Mexican policy
until 1t has the respect OF the great
mass of Mexicans, and a very ignorant
mass at that.
There is a disposition among some
neople to sheer at the talk OF prestige,
hut anyone who has lived in Mexico
Knows that even though Carranza's
commanders in Chihuahua kill q Few
score poems who may have had moth
inr to do with the murders, and call
# reparation, American lives are go
Ing ia be continually in danger be-
cause the poems have no respect Tor
American authority and no fear I IT.
And the industrial activity, which 10
the only possible hope for peace IN
northern Mexico, cannot be had with
out the presence Of Americans. II dls
merely travelling in a circle of mean
inSless words to talk about waiting
TIL peace Is restored.
Northern Mexico will revive when
eve the lives Of foreigners are sa1e.
Without them it is likely to remain q
mere area of anarchy with the bandits
until lately called patriots by sympath-
ixers In the United States, making q
stronghold Of the Sierra Madres and
RytRSALuk dxuFf
and other foreigners at will.
AZ punitive expedition would change
this situation. The army on the from
tier is entirely capable of restoring
neace in northern Mexico. H@Car-
ranza's government Is capable of main
tanning itself in other sections OF n
country SO much the better. But some
authority has to establish respect for
life in the section bordering the Uni
ted States.
The crossing of the frontier by
American troops OF course would be
intervention, but In considering the
effect OF Intervention much depends
on the intention. It will be said that
no one q see where the end will be.
This isl true, but the end to the policy
Of the last two years has come IN
tragedy and horror and the beginning
Of a new policy must be made.
The military occupation of the
anarchic sections for the purpose OF
furnishing the murderers and prevent
ing future murders can be clearly
stated. The Mexicans naturally will
not believe 1t and other countries
which persistently m~isrepresent and
malign the motives of the United
states will affect to see in it only ma
tional greed. But fear of what un-
friendly critics may say is a poor rea
o for lodging a national RESPONSE
bility. The only question for this
country is whether it has confidence
4. ,xr avn UnOd faith II ~ cannot