The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-03-30

forces VI military power which are ex-
hi!,ited in Europe from laying bold
upon the vast territory and pract1ca'ly
undefen,lcd wealth of the new world
Have we still national ideals! VIII
anybody live Tor them: Would any
body die for them: Or are we al for
ease and comfort and wealth AZ amy
price: Confronted 10y site II questions
as these and the practira' st'l''t'"''>
which give rise to them u 'he coun
try satisfied to trust itself again i'll the
hands of the Democratic party?
,npotent Interference In Mexico.
The rnited States had rights and
duties in Mexico More than 10000 or
our citizens had sought their fortunes
and made their homes there. 4 thou
sand millions Of American capital had
been invested in that productive coun
try. But revolution had come. and
factional warfare was rife. Americans
mad been murdered American proper
ty had been wantonly destroyed. the
lives and property of all Americans III
Mexico were in danger. That was the
situation when MIR. Wilson became
president In March. 1913. His duty
then was plain. 1t was. first to use
his powers as president to secure pro
lection for the lives and property OF
Americans in Mexico and to require
thar rules of law and stipuIations OF
treaties should lie observed by Mexico
toward the Emitted States ana its c'tl
zens His duty was, second. as the
head of a foreign power to respect tue
independence of Mexico. to refrain
from all interference with her Internal
| affairs from all attempt at DONNA
tion except as he was justified by the
law Of nations for the protection or
American rights. The president OF the
United States failed to observe either
of those duties He deliberately almn
doned them both and followed an en-
tlrely different and Inconsistent pur'
nose He interviewed in Mexico to ald
one faction in civil strife against an
other He undertook to pull doWh
Huerta and set CarranZa up III MS
! "A
were freely furnished to the northern
forces and withheld from Huerfa
Finally the president sent our army
and navy to invade Mexico ana cap
ture it's great seaport. Vera Cruz. ana
hold # and throttle Mexican commerce
until Huerta fell.
Americans Outraged In Mexico.
The government of the United States
INTERVIEWED in Mexico to control the III
ternaI affairs Of that independent coun
try and to enforce the will OF the
American president in those affairs by
threat, by economic pressure and ny
force of arms Upon what claim o1
right cid this intervention proceed
Not to secure respect for American
rights, not to protect the lives or prop
erty Of our citizens. not to assert the
laws OF nations. not to cou'pel ohserv
ance of the law of humanity. On the
contrary. Huerta's was the only power
in Mexico to which appeal could OF
made for protection OF life or property
That was the only power which. II
fact. die protect either American u
European or Mexican 1t was onl.
within the territory where Huert:
ruled that comparative peace and or
der prevailed. The territory owe
which the armed power OF Carranz;
and Villa and their associates extended
was the theater of the most apInnl|n:
crimes Rands of robbers roved TIT
country with unbridled license. Amer
leans and MeXicans alike were at tbei
mercy. and American men were muir
dercd and American women were out
RACED with IMMUNITY. Thousands Wer
reduced to poverty by the wanton de
struction of the industries Through
which they lived, YET the government
of the United States ignored, con
doneu. the murder OF American mel
and the rape of American women hnt
destruction of American property am
insult to American officers and delile
ment of the American flag and JOINED
itself to the men who were guilty o
all these things to pull down the pow
err of Huerta. Why? The prcsiden
himself has told us. 1t was becaus
he adjudged Huerta to be a usurpei
because he deemed that the common
people of Mexico ought to have great
er participation in government am
. share in the land. and be believed tina
Carranza and Villa would give then
these things. We must all sympathiZ
with these sentiments. but there
nothing more dangerous than mis-
placed sentiment
. When our army landed at Vera Cru
Carranza himself, who was to lie tn
chief beneficiary Of the act. publicl
protested against it. So strong wa
the resentment that he could not hav
, kept his followers otherwise, Whe
Huerta had fallen the new guvernmel
which for the day had succeeded
his place peremptori!y demanded tn
, withdrawal OF the American troop
The universal sentiment OF Mexican
required the pcrelnptory demand. an
the troops were withdrawn Sti
, worse than that. the taking Of Vel
, Cruz destroyed confidence in tile sill