Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-13
MEXICO.

declares that there Is not an issue IN Progress
i've or Republican politics which will survive
the winter and be factor in the national cam
paign.
If there had been no such issue when the
World editorial was written, two weeks ago. i
was supplied on Tuesday when Americans
learned with horror and Indignation that eigll-
teen of their countrymen had been slaughtered
to make a Mexican holiday.
The country has been patient with the pres
ent national administration in its dealings with
Mexico. The citizens Of the United States have
been as patient with their chief executive as
he has been patient with the Mexican faction
alsts. They have adopted the policy OF watch
full waiting which he proposed. They have sus-
pended Judgment as he asked. They have
hoped, as he hoped, that some one faction, some
one military leader, some one statesman, would
rise above the lllrid dust south of the Rio
Grande and by strength or diplomacy harmon
lie the factions, restore order, set Mexico S face
forward once more and give guarantees to
foreigners that would be more than mere
Z" scraps of paper.
While Mr. Wilson and his secretaries of state
were sending secret service men and special
agents and confidential emissaries into Mexico;
while Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Tumulty were busily
denying or evading detailed stories of wanton
oppression and barbaric outrage; while the
great mass of Mexican people fell from poverty
to want, and from want to disease and starva-
ton, the country watchfully waited.
While the pan American conference deliber-
ated; while recognition for Carranza was be-
coming fact, while Carranza was setting up
his de sfactu-guvernment, the country watch
fully waited. s
And every day was then adding to the stories
of confiscation of property, reign Of anarchy,
riot of murder in the domain CarranZa had
guaranteed would be safe for foreign residence
and travel
In fact, every day since Mr.. Wilson has been
in offiee, and even before that in Mr. Taft s
time, stories of reign of blood instead of
law below the Rio Grande have been written
into the vast and blurred volume of Mexican
misrule
It was apparent many months ago that the
'watchful waiting" policy would not of itself
bring order out of chaos. To all practical pur-
Doses that policy was abandoned when the
United States initiated the pan-American con
ference movements BY that action notice was
<erred on Mexico that powers outside her pal
sled own must interfere These powers cast
their favor upon Carranza The United States
vent remarkable lengths to aid him. He was
wen every privilege of getting munitions from
The United States, while his chief robber rival,
lila, could not get grain of powder nor
|'''e across the border except by lawlessness
Ind stealth. And when in a desperately close
battle, Villas troops outnumbered and out
.ousht Carranza s. the United States allowed
[Ifranza achievements to cross American soil
10 strike at the VilIistas Uncle Sam became
then in military fact an ally of Carranza as
against Villa.
II is thus plain that the president original
policy of hands Of" has been abandoned. The
other main feature of his Mexican policy has
been for the United States by its forbearance
to set an example of disinterestedness to every
other Latin-American country.
We have set this example done it with re-
narkable tolerance, in the face of the most
hagrant outrages by Mexican banditti. But
how long must nation forbear to seek redress
for its murdered dead9 What Central or
South American country will respect the United
States if after this consummately bloody deed
Washington does not act with promptitude and
exemplary vigor!
President Wilson and his cabinet have given
to Mexico every benefit of doubt, every wealth |
Of opportunity to work out stable government
without military interference from beyond its |
borders. The net result is the placing in power
of nridn cuollau iaion+ ,,ot