Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-13
JANUARY Il. 1916.
MEXICO.

declares that thefe;IS not an Issue IN Progress
i've or Republican politics which will survive
the winter and be afactor in the national cam
paign.
If there had been no such issue when the
World editorial was written two weeks ago, il
was supplied on Tuesday when Americans
learned with horror and Indignation that eigh-
teen of their countrymen had been slaughtered
to make Mexican holiday.
The country has been patient with the pres
ent national administration in its dealings with
Mexico The citizens of the United States have
been as patient with their chief executive as
he has been patient with the Mexican faction
alists They haze adopted tile policy Of watch
full waiting which he proposed. They have sus-
pended Judgment as he asked. They have
hoped asihe hoped, stliat some one faction, some
one military leader, some one statesman. would
rise above the furid dust south Of tile Rio
Grande and by strength or diplomacy harmon
lie the factions restore order, set Mexico face
forward once more, and give guarantees to
Foreigners that would be more than mere
fscraps Of paper"
While Mr.. Wilson and his secretaries of state
were sending secret service men and special
agents and confidential emissaries into Mexico;
while Mr.: Bryan and Mr.. Tumulty were busily
denying or evading detailed stories of wanton
oppression and barbaric outrage; while the
great mass of Mexican people fell from poverty
to want, and from want to disease and starva-
tion the country watchfully waited.
While the pan-American conference deliber-
ated; while recognition for Carranza was be-
coming a fact, while Carranza was setting. up
his de facto government, the country watch
fully waited.
And every day was their adding to the stories
Of confseation of property, reign of anarchy,
riot of murder in the domain Carranza had
guaranteed would be safe for foreign residence
and travel
In fact, every day since Mr. Wilson has been
in office, and even before tia, LIN Mr.. Taft S
time, stories of reign of blood instead of
law below the Rio Grande have been written
INTO the vast and blurred volume of Mexican
,nisrule
It was apparent many months ago that the
Watchfu waiting policy would not of itself
bring order out of chaos. To all practical pur-
Ioses that policy was abandoned when the
United States initiated the pan-American con-
|trence movements By that action notice was
rived on. Mexico that powers outside her pal
sled own must interfere These powers cast
their favor upon CarTanza. The United States
vent remarkable lengths to aid him. He was
given every privilege of getting munitions from
the United States, while his chief robber rival
Villa, could not get grain of powder nor a
rife across the border except by lawlessness
and stealth. And when, in desperately close
battle, Villas troops outnumbered and out
fought Carranza IS the United States allowed
Carranza reinforcements to cross American soil
to strike at the Villistas. Uncle Sam became
then in military fact an ally of Carranza asI
against Villa.
1t is thus plain that the president s original
policy of hands of" has been abandoned The
other main feature of his Mexican policy has
been for the United States by its forbearance
to set an example of disinterestedness to every
other Lafin-American country.
We have set this example, done it with re-
markablel tolerance, in the face of the most
dagrant ;putrages by Mexican banditti But
how longmust nation forbear to seek redress
for its murdered deadf What Central or
South American country will respect the United
States if after this consummately bloody deed
Washington does not act with promptitude and
exemplary vigors
President Wilson and his cabinet have given
to Mexico every benefit of doubt, every wealth
OF opportunity to work out a stable government
without military interference from beyond its
borders. The net result is the placing in power
Of Al