New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-13
in any large way In North and South
America.
MAY Re Forced 10 Fight.

America.
May Re Forced 10 Fight.
az we lived in Utopia should be a
pacifst. But we live on this hait-
civilized earth, and the majority OF Us
inhabitants are to-day at war win one
another. America. now as always,
loves peace and is devoted 70 pehcelul
pursuits. But the nations OF Europe
and Asia who are az war 70 say no'h-
inr of Mexico at any time, now
or later, force us 10 defend the honV'
OF America and tho lives and the righ,,s
Of Americans. In this rude Worid
neither innocence nor justice nor any
moral or spiritual perfection Will guar
antce nation against attack.
con this terrestrial globe even the
most enlightened and civilized nations
must provide for themselves means or
dofcnce against the aggresslons OF
otber nations who covet their wealth
or territory. oppose their national pou-
cies. or violate their just rights. ms
ineNorable necessity Of sclf-defcnee
America cannot escape. Like other ma
tions. she must protect herself. Heaven
grant she may always be able 70 resist
ageressions! She certainly will never
be the aggressor. The spirit of Amer
Tea is happily described by the apostle
God hath not given us the spirit or
fear. but of power and Of love and OF
a sound mind
81 rejoice in President Wilson's con-
version 10 the cause OF preparedness.
Better late than never. But the con
version of our Chief Magistrate at TINS
late date is apt to create q false I'M
preston of the condition Of our for
eign affairs. The President does We .
therefore, 70 declare and reiterate that
nothing new has happened 20 disturb
our relations with any q the natons
Of the world, whether neutral or pei
EEercnt. WI.
does President Wilson, after playing
racifst so long, alright our ears with
this dreadful warning? There Is no
new infringement Of American rights
no new attack on American honor, no
new destruction Of American NE
These outrages we have suffered ior
q wear or more not spasmodically' ort
continuously; not locally, but over
vast theatre. extending from Mexico
20 the North Sea and the PresldenI
has met them by diplomatic notes ana
found in them 10 arguments Tor pre-
paredness.
Two Years Too Late.
"The time TO have begun prepare
lions for the national defence was IN
1914. when this world war started.
Then, as now. no one could tel what
q day would bring forth. Then, as
now. Europe was in confiaGration ana
sparks might drop on finder IN Amer
lea Then. rs now. Z war obvious that
il might be impossible for the Ameri-
can government 20 preserve peace ana
az tho same time maintain the national
honor. Then. as now. every argument
which tho President is using ~ favor
Of preparedness was pertinent ana
sound. But then the President was OPP
posed 20 preparedness.
Had the President IN 1914 recon-
mended to Congress an increase IN our
army and navy and had Congress enact
ed the recommendations into law there
would have been something besides pa
por and ink behind the diplomatic arm
cf our government. ! have no doubt
that had the President advocated pre-
raredness In 1914 as he is doing IN
1916 the most serious international
difficulties which now confront our
would never have arisen.
Take the case OF Mexico. Here IN
doubtedly we had just cause u ever
q nation had one. ] will not reclte any
% the circumstances Of the killing OF
American men, the attacking Of Amerl-
can women, the starving OF American
children and the wanton destruction
of American property in Mexico, But
our government pursued a weak. IN
consistent and fantastic diplomacy.
President Wilson seems 10 have been
animated BY q personal dislike OF
Huerta, whom the other great nations
Rad recognized as the head Of The
Mexican state. ] Will not recall the
flag incident or the acts OF war com.
mitted In Vera Cruz or the recall OF
our navy without securing the salute
for which President Wilson had sent
them TO Mexico. n all this business
The President seems 10 have been mis-
led hv his dislike Of Huerta- His great
ambition was 10 compose the dlfer-
ences which had arisen between Mexi-
"There are two policies. either Of
which might have been adopted IN our
dealings with Mexico We might have
held entirely eloof, leaving It to the
Mexican people themselves 70 settle
their own troubles. This is the policy
Of non-intervention. On the other
hand we might have interviewed on
the ground that Mexico had demon
strated her incapacity to fulfil her IN
ternational obligations. President VIII
son has adopted neither one policy nor
the other. he has followed both, some-
times together and at other times sue
cessively. What the end will be no one
knows"