The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-02-16

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towards the United States and its cit
liens. His duty was second, as the
head Of foreign power to respect
the independence Of Mexico, to re-
frain from all interference with Its in
ternal affairs, from all attempt at dom
inatlon except as he was justified by
the law Of nations for the protection
Of American rights.
1.-THE president Of the United States
failed to observe either OF those du-
ties. He deliberately abandoned them
both and followed an entirely differ
ent and inconsistent purpose. He in
tervepod in Mexico to aid one faction
in civil strife against another. HE
undertook to pull down Huerta and
set Carranza up in his place. Huerta
was in possession. lie claimed to be
the constitutional president of Mex
leo. He certainly was the de facto
president of Mexico. Rightly or wrong
| w. good or bad, he was there"
/ Mr.. Root reviewed our subsequent
relations with Mexico, declaring that
the United States Interviewed in Mex
leo 10 control the Internal affairs by
threat, by economic pressure, and by
force Of arms" and that the Amer
lean government Ignored, condoned,
the murder Of American men and the
rape OF American women and the de.
struction of American property and
Insult to American officers and detile.
ment of the American flag and Joined
itself TO the men who were guilty OF
all these things to pull down the pow
err Of Huerta.
1.-THE results of this interference
were most unfortunate" Mr.. Root con-
tinued. "If our government had sent
an armed force into Mexico to pro-
tect American life and honor we
might have been opposed but we
should have been understood and re-
spected by the people of Mexico, be-
cause they would have realized thal
we we're acting within our interna'
tional rights and performing ma
TONS duty for the protection OF us
own people; but when the president
sent an armed force into Mexico 10
determine the Mexican presidential
succession he created resentment
and distrust of motives among all
classes and sections Of the Mexican
| people. c,.
with the occupation Of Vera Cruz
the moral power Of the United States
in Mexico ended. We were then ana
are now hated for what we did for
our feeble and irrcsolute failure to
protect the lives and rights OF our
citizens. No flag is so dishonored and
no citizenship so little worth the
claiming in Mexico as ours. And that
is why we have failed in Mexico.
"And for the death and outrage, the
suffering and ruin Of our own breth-
rem, the hatred and contempt for our
country, and the dishonor of our name
in that land, the administration at
Washington shares responsibility with
the inhuman brutes with whom II
made common cause"
Mr., Root turned to the administers
TONS European policy, declaring that
some Of the people were dissatisfied
for specific reasons, some with a vague
impression that our diplomacy has
been inadequate AT this point in his
address the speaker enumerated whal
he declared were the administrations
three fundamental errors AS tc
the first OF these-"ack Of foresigh,
to make timely provision for backing
I'm American diplomacy by actual OF
assured military and naval force
Mr.. Root pointed to immediate mobili'
cation by Switzerland and Holland
and continued:
Ordinary knowledge of European
affairs made it plain that the war was
begun not by accident, but with pur-
pose which would not soon be relin-
quished. Ordinary knowledge of mil
ltary events made It plain from the
moment when the tide of German in
vaslon turned from the battle Of the
Marne that the conflict was certain ia
be long and desperate. Ordinary
knowledge Of history-of our own his
tory during the Napoleonic wars
made 1t plain that in that conflict neu.
trail rights would be worthless unless
powerfully maintained All the world
had fair notice that, as against the
desperate belligerent resolve to con
quer, the law Of nations and the law
Of humanity interposed no effective
barriers for the protection Of neutral
rights. Ordinary practical sense In
the conduct OF affairs demanded thai
such steps should be taken that be-
hind the peaceable assertion OF oul
country's rights, It's independence and
its honor, should stand power, mani
fest and available, warming the whole
world tht 1t would cost too much t
press aggression too far. The Dem
ocratic government at Washington die
-. 4. Ntborc rnU n and theil