The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-17

Nrlea VII thukulant NueFe nave uttn eA-
tensive employment Of labor, great ex-
ports and a great innur Of money.
But this is temporary. II must soon
cease. and when the factories have
stopped and their iaborers are no
longer employed we must deal with a
situation for which wise forethought
should make provision. More lmpor-
tant still. the war has paralyzcd the
peaceful industries Of all Europe and
has stopped that competitive foreign
production which IN July, 1914, had al
ready entered American markets to
supersedc American products under
t'e tariff law OF 1913. The war has
thus given to American products an
immunity from competition far more
effective than any possible protective
tariff. But that is temporary. and
when the war is over, when foreign
production begins again, the American
market compared with impoverished
Europe will he more than ever before
the object Of desire and effort. and we
shall become the dumping ground OF
the world to the destruction OF our
own industries unless that is prevented
by wise and competent government
How Can os Defend ourselVes7
! But il is not from domestic ques-
tons that the most difficult problems
OF this day arise. The events of the
last few years have taught US many
lessons. We have learned that civiliza.
| ton is but veneer thinly covering the
savage nature of man. How can this
nation, which loves peace and intends
! Justice, avoid the curse Of militarism
and at the same time preserve its In
dependence. defend its territory, pro
tect the lives and liberty and proper
/ " Of its citizens? How can we pre-
vent the same principles Of action, the
same policies of conduct the same
FORCES OF military power which are ex-
hibited in Europe from laying hold
upon the vast territory and practically
undefended wealth of the new world :?
Have we still national ideals? VIII
anybody live for them? Would any.
body die for them? Or are we all for
ease and comfort and wealth at any
price? Confronted 10y such questions
as these and the practical situations
which give rise TO them, Is the coun-
try satisfied to trust itself again IN the
hands Of the Democratic party?
lnpotent Interference In Mexico.
The United States had rights and
duties in Mexico. More than 10000 Of
our citizens had sought their fortunes
and made their homes there \ thou
sand millions Of American capital had
been invested IN that productive c0un-
| try. But revolution had come, and
| factiOnal warfare was rife. Americans
had been murdered. American proper
| ty had been wantonly destroyed. the
lives and property Of all Americans In
Mexico were In danger That was the
situation when Mr.. Wilson became
president IN March, 1913. His duty
then was plain 1t was. first, to use
his powers as president 10 secure pro.
lection for the lives and property Of
Americans in Mexico and to require
that rules Of law and stipulations Of
treaties should he observed by Mexico
toward the United States and its citl.
zens. His duty was, second, a. the
head OF foreign power to respect the
independence Of Mexico. to refrain
from all interference with her internal
affairs. from all attempt at domino
ton except as he was justified by the
law Of nations for the protection OF
Of
United States failed to observe either
Of those duties He deliberately aban'
doncd them both and followed an ell
tirely different and Inconsistent pur
pose. He interviewed In Mexico TO aid
one faction in civil strife against All
other He undertook to pull down
Huerta and set CarranZa up iu his
place. Arms and munitions Of wal
were freely furnished 10 the northern
forces and withheld from Huerta
Finally the president sent our army
and navy 10 invade Mexico aud cap
ture its great seaport, Vera Cruz. and
hold II and throttle Mexican commerce
until Huerta fell.
Americans Outraged In Mexico.
The government Of the United States
INTERVIEWED in Mexico to control the In
ternal affairs of that independent cOun
try and to enforce the VIII OF The
American president in those affairs by
threat, by economic pressure and by
force of arms. Upon what claim OF
right did this Intervention proceed
Not to secure respect for American
rights. not to protect the lives or prop
erty Of our citizens, not 10 assert the
laws Of nations, not to compel observ
ance OF the law Of humanity. On tho
contrary. Huerta's was the only powel
In Mexico Ia which appeal could %