American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-10-19

can question. VIII you read another plank from
the Democratic platform adopted at Baltimore:
ave pledge ourselves anew 10 preserve the
sacred rights OF American citizenship nj home
and abroad. The constitutional rights OF
American citizens should protect them on
our borders and go with them throughout
the world, and every American citizen residing
or having property In any foreign country
Is entitled TO and must be given the full pro-
lection OF the United States government, both
for himself and his property"
| believe in every word, syllable, phrase and
sentence of that platform. The government Of
the United States is under obligations to protect
its citizens and their property so long as they owe
allegiance to the republic, upon whatever part
of Gods f~oot-stool they may stray.
In discussing this Mexican question, | am going
to deviate from the general discussion to a certain
extent by referring, In a brief way, to my own at
titude upon this question. | do so not for the
purpose OF exhibiting any supposed wisdom which
may be contained In it, but for the reason that /
do not think IL would be fair for a man that has
had the honor to be a member of the foreign re-
lations committee OF the senate to sit idly by and
he silent while the president was dealing with
such an important question, and make no sugges-
ton OF principle or proceeding and then after
the history has been written TO criticise II. |
would deem myself %estGpped In this campaign from
Offering any suggestions now had | sat silent as
a member of the foreign relations committee while
in the heat of this controversy and had not spoken
when | was under obligation to speak, and it is
for This reason that | refer to some matters con
corning myself. AS | stated, | have had the hon
or of being a member OF the foreign relations com
mittee Of The senate for the last six years. and all
these questions come Immediately before our COM
miftO nuriup tIa pnrIv trtAo tultb A. NtoyG
can custom, and at a time when they we're seek
Ing to get rid Of Huerta, the president invited the
foreign relations committee to the White House
to discuss the situation. | am not privileged. of
course, to state the views which the president
expressed there. | am not privileged, of course,
to give any yiew which may have been entertained
by him nj that time or state his conversation, but
| am permitted to say that upon that night | ex-
pressed to the president, IN connection with the
ether members Of the foreign relations committee.
my views in regard to the Mexican situation.
And next morning | went to the senate and what
! had said 10 the president, having ascertained
his policy and knowing his procedure, | stated
upon the floor Of the senate, and you will find
those remarks of mine made In the senate OF the
United States upon the 3rd day of April, 1914,
about the time We were dealing with the Vera
Cruz situation.
Without taking your time to read the record
which | have here, | viii say that | advocated two
propositions; First A firm and decisive de-
claration upon the part of the United States that
we would protect our citizens In Mexico. regard
Tess OF VINO was president. what was the form of
government, or how it got into existence. Sec
ondly, | advocated earnestly The Withdrawing
ana rcfraining from all Interference with the in
tern"l affairs of Mexico, So that day | said this,
"hlch | VIII take the time to read 20 you. For
myself do not want TO see war. think when
this bill passes It should be declared MS the policy
of the congress of the United States that the Re-
Public of tho United States will withdraw as an
Interfering power in Mexico; will withdraw as
an interfering power in Nicaragua; will with
draw rs an interfering power IN Honduras. and
VIII say 10 the republics OF Central America aud
Mexico, We will respect the integrity OF your
We will approach your borders on
~ When asked to do so as your friend: We rec
ognize aud respect the sovernlty of your state
and We will never come to You except as an older
brother and In respect to your government and
integrity of your territory And then | said.
We should stand ready at all times, however,
To protect our own citizens in Mexico. for that
Is a wholly different matter than that which Is
involved IN interfering with the internal affairs
OF Mexico. We should say to Mexico. we ex-
pect you to protect our citizens and protect their
property, and having done so we win respcct tho
integrity Of Mexico in every way"
Having taken that position. | assume the same
position here tonight. There are lust two pro-
positions which should have guided us with refer
ence to Mexico in this trouble fro mtho beginning.
simple in my Judgment, ncontrovertiblc and up
on which We could have proceeded with safety. 10
our own people and without being involved. First:
As ! have said, We should have stated To Mexico.
you protect our citizens, give them security. aud
having done SO work out your own salvation.
But you say II might have lead to war. Not at
all, There is no nation so low in sayagcry that II
does not respect the nation which insists upon the
protection of its own citizens.
Let me give you an illustration. when Jim
blalne was secretary of state. he appointed a