The Washington herald., 1916-01-13
The Numbering Of Americans.

minds of the people yesterday from murder of
Americans the high seas-from the slaughter
of their couhtrymen by savages in submarines to
the slaughter of their countrymen by savages on
land very border They are asking them
selves whether the killing of Americans in cold
blood has come to be accepted as right by blood
thirsty pirates and bandits, and why. They are
asking themselves whether the government of the
United States is to stretch forth its hand and stop
the spilling of the blood of its citizens and when
Meanwhile they waiting apprehensively for the
story of another Ancona or another Mexican rail-
way train. 1t is another lesson, though it will be
lost for those who believe in preserving peace
even at the cost of life and the national honor and
who are opposed to any preparation to resist in
yasion punish the violation of our rights.
For the country's sake let it be devouty hoped
that the men who yesterday demanded in Con-
gress that action, real and vigorous, be quickly
taken in Mexico represent its true spirit; that the
American people have not yet been lulled into a
state of mind that permits them to contemplate the
cold blooded murder of their countrymen with un-
disturbed serenity. Americans have been murder
ed and robbed in Mexico at frequent intervals for
the past three years, but the bloody deed in
Chihuahua last Monday far surpasses in ferocity
any crime before recorded 1t can only be re-
garded as Villas answer to recognition of
Carranza, just as German torpedoes. were the
answers to Lusitania notes What the gov
ernment of the United States will do about it can
only be surmsed. The State Department with
much emphasis calls attention to the fact that
Americans had been warned to keep away from
the territory in which fifteen or more were shot
to death in cold blood Monday, and it has
telegraphed to Carranza, provisional President,
demanding that the murderers be promptly pun
irritating confession OF weakness. The simple
facts that the Americans were there in the
pursuit of their legitimate business and that they
were deliberately and cruelty murdered The mes
sage to Carranza is mere formality necessary,
perhaps, but meaningless. He is poweress to pun
ish the murderers. That must be the task Of the
United States government, if the blood of its ct-
zens is to be avenged; and if it is not then let
Americans beware of setting foot beyond their
own borders where they not assured of friend
ship, for notice will have been given to the world
that their lives need be held in no regard, that
no reckoning will follow the staying of them
But it is too humating to think that shall
come to such pass. Rather would believe
that our government will do what is necessary to
uphold its own dignity and the country's tradi-
tons Let not be told thai this is situation
in which "too proud to fight" We were
not too proud to fight when proper degree of
respect was not paid to us by old Huerta-dying
a prisoner Of the United States-who would not
and did not salute flag We fought Huerta
and drove him from Mexico over a ceremony he
refused to perform. What is to be our course to-
ward those who in deliberate defiance of the
United States and Of the laws of nations and
humanity did perform that grewsome ceremony
American citizens stripped naked lined up
in a row and shot to death. Carranza is helpless;
the murderers will go unpunshed unless we do
the work. Then let proceed to it, by punitive
ter what it is called. If Carranza will aid and CO.
operate so much the better for him. If he op-
poses us, the task becomes but little more serious
and difficult Surely capable Of it, even in
our present condition of unpreparedness. If we
are not, then let regulate Our activities and
conduct and speak respectfully, behttng a
people confessing ourselves at the mercy of any
power which, coveting our possessions, elects to
take them, or, resentful of policies, proceeds
in hatred contempt to murder our citizens.