Semi-weekly herald., 1916-06-26
TWO COURSES OPEN IN MEXICO

I The United States government
ought to do one of two things; Ought
to stay out of Mexco entirely sim
ply guarding the border, or else
ought to invade Mexico with an army
big enough to take possession of the
entire country.
This must now be evident to every
one.
There can be no halfway grounds.
If the American government aban-
dons Mexico, every American family
should be removed from that country.
There are many thousands of Amer
leans in Mexico. That country's op-
portunities have been inviting; lands
and mines have been cheap; labor
has been cheap and capital has been
dominant.
The common people Of Mexico are
ignorant and are of Indian blood.
Some of them are willing to work (;
some are not.
The people of Mexico are unambi-
tious, as a rule; they doa not keep
themselves clean; they live in huts;
thousands of them are besgars.
1t is pitiful to Sc, a great country
like Mexico being despoiled.
The American government could
take possession and by encouraging
American investments and by dis
tribution of the pubic lands thru a
homestead law col'i il fifty years
make a new country out of it. At
the end of fifty years the Mexican
people might know something about
their government and have some
ambition to be a nation.
There is no Mexican government
at the present time. If we fight in
Mexico, we simply fight separate and
independent commands Of bandits.
Patriotism has never been heard of
in Mexico. No Mexicans are fight
ing for their liberty. They are fight
ing at the command of bandit leaders
for purposes of theft.
| Mexico will never be any better
provided she is left to her own de-
vices.
Germany, with the great German
army, could take hold of Mexico and
produce such development as would
astonish the world. If Germany took
possession, her own German people
would not be making fuss about it.
If the American people take posses
ion of Mexico fully one-haH of the
American people would denounce our
proceedings as :r'minal. II We took
possession of Meyi.,o, the sentiment
at home among olIr own people wOdld
not sustain our own government long
e-tugh to prodl,s results
| We. have a strange people in the
U; ted States; tncy are emotional
and at times without a purpose.
We prefer that the United States
should invade Mexico and clean it up.
We indorse the presidents action in
calling out the national guard of the
several states. The national guard
will be needed on the border, even
if we have no war with the Mexican
people. 1t would take an army OF
150,0 900 men to guard the border dur
ing the next five years.
We sympathize deeply with Presi-
dent Wilson. He is between two fires
Factions are pulling and hauling al
him, suggesting this and demanding
that, and he permits himself to be
left in doubt. His greatest mistake
has been indecision.
He can Withdraw every American
soldier from Mexico. He can ask the
Mexican people for time to take al
the Americans out of their country
then by guarding the border he car
have the appearance of peace.
He can call half a million men;
drill them all summer and all winte,
and next spring he can invade Mex
leo; inaugurate military govern
ment, stop all numbering and steal
ing and start Mexico on a new ca
reer.
Getting out of Mexico would no;
exactly end all our troubles, because
the American people under the Mon
roe doctrine, are responsible for Mex
leo. The invasion of Mexico would
offend all the South and Central
American states. But I'VE cannot
wait everlastingly to satisfy every
body. Fate may decide these matters
for the president. The Mexicars
may assassinate General Pershing's
command; then there will be nothing
to decide; it will be war. Des
Moines Capital,