Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-08-04
Beyond Mexico.

Beyond Mexico.
Whatever the immediate future may
bring forth it is we'll for Americans to
understand as clearly as possible what
Intervention in Mexican affairs involves.
In the first place it means the restora :
ton of order in place Of anarchy.
Whether or not the Individual considers
this defensible reason for interfering
across the Rio Grande will depend on
whether or not he believes that life and
law and property should be protected.
Leaving this issue to be fought out by
others, F. S. & H. wishes to point out
some grave consequences that may fol-
low any action we may take relative to
Mexico. The reported action of the
Central American states favoring Mex
leo as against the United States is the
natural outcome of racial and histor-
ical association that has known the
United States some times in the role of
protector, but more often in the role
of good natured but most determined
guardian, more feared than loved.
The South American nations likewise
have little historical or commercial
relationship with the United States;.
their interests lie with the Latin peoples,
among whom the Mexicans, in spite of
their preponderance of Indian blood,
are included. The literature and the
history of all Central and South Amer
lea, Brazil alone excepted, is of Spanish
origin and between Spain and the
United States exists gulf of language,
governmental ideas, social systems that
has not been bridged since the days of
the Crusades. The Celt and Saxon
have never understood the Latin, nor
has the Latin understood the Celt and
Saxon. Their Interpretation of our
civilization, it's purposes and ends is
complimentary neither to our civiliza-
ton nor to our honesty of motive. The
fact is pointed out that the record of
history is against US and this history
goes back to the conquest of North
America by the English and the later
American conquest of Florida, our
activity in behalf of the independence
of the South American republics and
our later war whereby we took from
Mexico approx mately half her territory.
The fact of the matter is that in the
Mexican War we have little to pride
ourselves upon except the valor of our
soldiers. About its diplomacy or its
necessity the less said the better. One
thing the Mexican does not do is to for
get and seventy years has not healed
the bitterness by that war, nor has it
allayed the distrust with which South
American nations view the COLOSSUS of
the North" 1t will require diplomacy
of highest order, straight forward
speaking that has about or beyond it no
sense of personal or national gain to
convince the South American republics
that our present Intervention in Mexico
is not another deliberate step south
ward toward the isthmus, toward the
control of the Caribbean sea and toward
the establishment of an empire that
shall reach over tn South American
continent. Were we Americans stu
ated as the South American is we should
doubtless take his view of the situation.
He cannot understand the reasons for
which we wage war, simply because he
would not wage war for those reasons,
and not understanding our purposes he
can only construe it in terms of his own
history, which places America along
with Great Britain as nation strong,
determined, eager for conquest,
to the life and independence of
his country. What we need now far
more than we need armies and a navy
is diplomacy of the highest possible
order-a diplomacy seeking justice,
friendship, understanding and good
will.-Farm, Stock & Home.