Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-11-03
Wilson And The War

doctrine nave not been enforced nor
lived up to. There are many critics
who think that the disrespect which
has been shown towards this principle
has made it practically useless as an
international policy. If, however, the
Monroe Doctrine had been lived up to
we would not have the responsibility
for the conditions which have meant
disruption, bankruptcy and loss Of
life in Mexico.
1t must be admitted thai HESSf.
Wilson "got in bad' when h easN %
recognize Huerta and tried to inter-
fere. His vacillation after giving his
word made constant state of war
fare possible. Wilson's notes to Car.
rama have been all but ridiculed.
Life, property and honor of American
citizens have been ignored.
Americans do not want war; their
demand for peace provides that they
keep their self-respeet. goth Cent
ury Patriotism doesn't mean warfare
and bloodshed; ii does mean security
OF life, property, and economic advant-
age through intelligent and dignified
arbitration.
Quoting from Hughes proposed pol
icy, we find: s~
IAN American in Mexico, Is subject
to Mexican law, but heSis AN Ameri.
can still, and is entitled to the protec.
ton of his own government in his law
full business. For one, shall never
consent to policy which leaves Amer.
leans helpless against the lawlessness
OF any country in which they have q
right to do business"
In regard to our relation with Ger
many and the allies we must again
admit the failure of the Wilson adj
ministration. Germany has been al
together too much entangled in her
relations with France, England and
the other countries to want war with
America. The present war, in the last
analysis, is trade war, a struggle for
control of commerce. The cause dates
back to 1870, when Germany took q
strip on the banks of the Rhine from
France, which the Frenchmen demand
because 1t will increase their mari.
time power. This and Germany's greed
Tor maritime control, England's at
tempt to maintain her supremacy, in
addition with the other belligerent
nations fighting to get outlets to build
up their trade, has made it continen.
tai war from which America has been
left out. America has never been
considered as rival for maritime
power, so it has not been Germany's
intention to scatter her forces by de-
claring war against nation which has
carried less than 10 per cent of her
own commerce.. She had no intention
OF bringing the United States into the
war while her decidedly selfish inter-
ests from the standpoint of munitions
and food supplies was to keep out Of
war with us. Our value to her is for
commerce, but our rank as a mari
time power is only fourth or fifth.
A positive, meaningful declaration
OF war against Germany would have
American self-respect,
national and personal rights and priv
ilege. Had Wilson at any time shown
that his word was positive express
ion of the spirit of American indie.
pendence and honor, Germany would
have conceded our rights. In point Of
fact, every ambition has been a case
of the Wilson Waltz:
2 steps forward,
3 steps backward;
Hesitate
Then side-step.
American citizens feel the ringing
inconsistency of the slogan, peace at
any Price" We don't want It at the
price of American honor, national
ideals, and individual self-respect. The
presidents messages to Germany
have been repeatedly ignored, ships
have been sunk in a barbaric manner
Of warfare that would only do credit
to fourteenth century standards.
Clippings from the foreign press
show a continental contempt for the
American presidents vacillation and
loss of national self-respect and honor.
Wilson's theory of arbitration has
been carried beyond point Of honor.
Unquestionably the sacrifice from our
so called peace has been greater than
he gain.
"Too PROUD TO FIGHT" as
worked out by President Wilson,
means selling our national birthright
md all that America stands for. In
he history of the world, war for prin-
iple has been the cause of progress
n civic, social and commercial life.
Quoting again from Hughes plat
orm:
mo man is more determinaA.than
to maintain the peace VIII the
United States, Spain, Sweden Nor
yay, and all the American Resublics