Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-08
MAGAZINE SECTION for October 8, 1916

of his close friends in Washington, is not per-
turbed by these charges. His own conscience,
they say is perfectly clear. No matter how his
course may look from the standpoint of his oppo-
nents from where he sits it looks like perfectly
straight, consistent line.
In the case of Germany, they ask: "What
would you have done? Would you have declared
war? To have done so would have exposed every
American ship and every American traveller
the to attack; it would have cost blood
and money: and what would it have accomplished
more than has been accomplished? Germany has
been forced to surrender the submarine
instrument against commerce; and will be forced
to make reparaton for the wrongs she has DONE
Against England's high-handed actions the
seas vigorous protest has and is being made. No
American right has been surrendered: American
lives are now safe on the in the midst of the
worlds greatest cataclysm: and we hare kept out
of Ddr.
This is the answer of the Presidents friends on
the European questions, and they conclude it by
reterating: "What would you have done?"
On Mexico | thought l talked with them
that they are bit more sensitive. Yet even
here they contend that the President has had
perfectly consistent policy from which he has not
swerved.
Immediately after his inauguration they say
he received direct intimation from Central
America that the Democratic party looked
The word had gone out through those countries
that now, while the Democrats are in, is the time
to stir things up. Nobody object The partyo of
Rooseveltis OUT a new party is in. Come on, boys!
In order to correct those impressions at once
the President announced to the world in general
and to Central American revoutionsts in par
ticular that he would recognize no man in any
country who came up to power as the result OF a
revolution selfshly engineered.
And having made that announcement he
glanced over at Mexico and beheld who? Mr.
Huerta! There an immediate test of the
sincerity of his announcements the President met
it squarely. He not only refused to recognize
Mr.. Huerta, but he sent our ships and troops to
Vera Cruz, not to get salute for the flag, but
to force Huerta out.
CINCE then there has been chaos and bloodshed
- and destruction of property. But no more chaos
no more destruction, say the Presidents friends
than the French endured in winning their change
of government. The great fundamental on which
America stands, they say, is that every people
has the right to determine its own form OF
government and to work out its own salvation.
The Presidents effort has been to determine what
the Mexican people really want and to aid the
leader that most nearly to embody the
popular yearning and demand. When it seemed
that Villa was that leader the President sup
ported Villa. When Carranza showed himself
superior in leadership and organization, and
became the ttular head of the Constituencies,
he transferred his support to Carranza.
The succeeding months have tried the Presi-
dents patience sorey, but he has stood firm.
He believes that slowly but surely the Mexican
people are working toward peace and stability.
He believes that the people of the United States
are firm against intervention, and that interview
ton would mean occupation for many years, and
good-by to our hope of friendship and respect
and trade with all Latin-Amercan countries,
good-by to Pan America.