New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-23
Mr.. Wilson's Wars: Ill

lie in pursuance of a sound Ameri-
can policy. He interviewed by force
in those two countries to protect our
national interests, to restore order
and TO fulfil the obligations to Eu-
ropean governments which we have
assumed under our own interpreta-
ton of the Monroe Doctrine.
The Tribune approves-and IL
thinks that the country approves
the military operations through
which the Administrator has i'm
posed a protectorate on Hayt and
those through which, as is frankly
admitted in Rear Admiral Caperton's
proclamation of June 25 last, it has
expanded into "A genuine political
protectorate the partial fiscal super
visorship accorded to the United
States by our treaty with the Domln-
lean Republic of July 25, 1907.
In these two wars Mr.. Wilson
drew the sword to defend American
rights and TO promote the welfare OF
the United States. But he has also
made war twice-both times on Mex
ico-in pursuance of an altogether
different policy. He did not invade
Mexico to restore order, to protect
the lives and property of Americans
on to fulfil our obligations to the citi-
zens and subjects of European gov
ernnlents. military intervention on
whose part to protect them would be
extremely distasteful to the United
States.
On the contrary. the President has
explicitly disavowed all such pur-
poses. He has declared again and
again that American rights and in
terests in Mexico are an absolutely
minor consideration with him. He
has repeatedly announced that when
ever and wherever proper protection
Of the lives and property of our ma
tionals conflicts with the march of
the Mexican revolution toward tri-
umphant completion American inter
ests must give way to revolutionary
urgencies. He has made it perfectly
clear that he has been using armed
force in Mexico not to serve the
United States, but TO serve human
ity"-a phrase translatable in the
case of Mexico into service Of the
bandits, ex-bandits and near-bandits
who have reduced that republic to a
condition of semi-starvation and an
archy. Mr.. Wilson's policy in Mex
leo has been throughout chimerical,
personal, anti-national and anti
American.
The Presidents whole Mexican
programme has been the result of
IN obsession which still possesses
him. He took Office with a violent
prejudice against the Huerta govern
n.ent, and determined to sacrifice
everything else to Huerta's elimina-
ton. The Constitutionalist revolt
under Carranza and Villa was to be
nursed TO success, whatever the cost
to Mexico or TO American interests
in Mexico. John Lind, one of the
Presidents personal ENJOYS in Mex
leo, must have been reading Mr.. Will
sons thoughts at the beginning of
the Administration when he wrote
cynicany TO Washington:
ITO make a dog feel that he
is really a cur he must be
whipped by another dog, and
preferably cur. Consequently,
let this housekeeping be done
by home talent. 1t will be little
rough, and we must see that the
walls are left intact, but should
not worry if some of the veran-
das and French windows were
demolished"
The President therefore boycottec
Huerta and tried 10 shut him out Of
the credit market in this country
and in Europe. He raised the EN-
barge on the importation Of arm.
and munitions from the United
States into Northern Mexico, thu
giving Villa and Carranza a chanc,
10 equip their armies. But diplo
matte pressure and indirect aid u
the Constitutionalists could not alone
bring about Huerta's fall. So mill
tary pressure had TO be rcsorted 70.
The opportunity 10 make war or
Huerta was eagerly seized upor
when an officer Of the Federal gar
rIson in Tampico on April 9, 1914
arrested two sailors from the Dol
phin who had come ashore in a
Whaleboat with the ships paymas-
TER. Their arrest was vacated half
a. hour later and the Federal com
mander In Tampico expressed regret
for IL. President Huerta also ex-
pressed regret. But Rear Admiral