Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-15

our history when we invaded IT'S territory az vera
Cruz We again had war with Mexico when we
invaded its territory after the raid on Columbus,
| NJ One might just as well say that Belgium
| is not engaged in war. Its territory, too, was
invaded. Unlike the Mexicans, the Belgians
| fought back. The Mexicans only made sporadic
| killed and wounded American soldiers. If the
Mexican people had been imbued with the spirit
of the Belgians, we would not have escaped SO
easily.
| II anyone doubts that we made war on Mexico
when our marines and sailors landed at Vera
| Cruz, ask the mothers and fathers OF the boys
in blue who were killed on the streets OF that
Mexican seaport whether they believe we were at
war with Mexico.
Ask the boys who were wounded on that oeca
sion and for many weeks suffered intense pain
as they lay groaning upon their cots in impover-
shed hospitals whether the president kept us out
of war.
Ask the wives and mothers and the sisters OF
the Mexcans who were killed at Vera Cruz
whether we were at war with Mexico.
Ask the wife Of brave Captain Boyd, who was
killed at Carrizal, whether we were at war with
Mexico.
Ask the mother OF brave Lieutenant Adar.
who was also killed at Carrizal, whether we were
at war with Mexico.
Ask the relatives Of the United States soldiers
who were trcacherously slain at Carrizal whether
we were at war with Mexico.
Ask the relatives Of the eighteen American
civilians who were butchcred at Santa Ysabel IN
Mexico whether we were at war with Mexico.
Ask the mothers and the sisters OF those who
were slaughtered in the raid on Columbus, N NJ,
whether we we're at war with Mexico.
Ask the citizens of Brownsville, Red House
Ferry and Progreso postofice and Las Peladas
whether in the attacks OF Carranzista adherents
and the footing, burning and killing Of the peace
full inhabitants Of those places, the president has
kept us out of war.
Ask the women and children who were threat
ened with death at Tampico by an Infatuated
Mexican mob whether the president has kept us
out of war.
Ask the thousands Of American citizens who
we're called upon to abandon their property in
Mexico and to return forthwith to the United
States whether the president has kept us out Of
war.
And, finally, ask the wives and the children.
the dependent mothers and fathers and sisters Of
called from their usual peaceful avocations and
who will be encamped on the Mexican border for
the Lord knows how long whether the president
has kept US out Of war with Mexico.
In 1912 the democratic platform proclaimed
this hisgh-sounding doctrine is: :. ..,, III;
gems should protect them on our borders, and
60 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 protection Of the United
States government, both for himself and his
property"
In the campaign Of 1912 the president was
very insistent in saying that
THE democratic platform means what it
says. It is not molasses to catch flies"
Surely the way this plank has been executed
BY the present administration is proof positive
that not word Of it was intended to be carried
into effect but that it was only "molasses to
catch flies"
How the lives and property of American eiti-
gems have been safeguarded on the border will
leave for Mr.. Lansing, the secretary of state Of
this administration, to describe. After several
years Of "watchful waiting" the secretary of state
sent letter to the head Of the de facto govern
ment In Mexico in which occurs this remarkable
language %s !. s...o,..;.. j, u.w;,..
Continuous bloodshed and disorders have
marked its progress. For three years the Next
can republic has been torn with civil strife; the
lives of Americans and other aliens have been
sacrificed; vast properties developed by Amer-
can capital and enterprise have been destroyed
or rendered reproductive; bandits have been
permitted to roam at will through the terri
tory contiguous to the United States and to
seize, without punishment or without effective
attempt at punishment, the property of Ameri-
cans, while the lives OF citizens of the United
States who vcntured to remain in Mexican ter
ritory or to return there to protect their in
terests have been taken, and in some cases bar
barousy taken, and the murderers have neither
been apprehended nor brought to justice. 1t
would be difficult to find in the annals of the
history of Mexico conditions more deplorable
than those which have existed there during
these recent years of civil war.
1T would be tedious to recount instance
after instance, outrage after outrage, atrocity
after atrocity, to illustrate the true naure and
extent OF the widespread conditions of lawess-
ness and violence which have prevailed. During
the last nine months in particular, TIE frontier
Of the United States along the lower Rio
Grande has been thrown into state of con-
slant apprehension and turmoil because of fire.
quent and sudden incursions into American |
territory and depredations and murders on
American soil BY Mexican bandits who have
taken the lives and destroyed the property of
American citizens, sometimes carrying Ameri-
can citizens across the international boundary
with the booty seized. American garrsons
have been attacked at night, American soldiers
killed and their equipment and horses stolen;
stolen and d strov.d, and American trains
wrecked and plundered. The attacks on
Brownsville, Red House Ferry, Progreso post
Office and Las Peladas, all occurring during
September last are typical In these attacks
on American territory Carranzista adherents,
and even Carranzista soldiers took part in the
looting, burning and killing Not only were
these murders characterized by ruthless bru-
tally, but uncivilized acts Of mutilation were
perpetrated.
Representations were made to General Car
ranza and he was emphaticay requested to
stop these reprehensibe acts in section which
he has long claimed to be under the complete
domination of his authority Notwithstanding |
theen rA0ree at;onc and the ornuise ,f Cen.