Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-29
THE NATION WATTS ON THE
PRESIDENT TODAY

< WHEN the President speaks in this
= w city today the whele country will welt
on his words as the whole country waited
( on what he would say at the time he ad.
dressed the new citizens here on May 10
! Of last year.
The Lusitania had then Just been sunk.
More than one hundred Americans had
been drowned. Would the Chief Bxecu-
tive Of this nation denounce the hitherto
unthinkable outlase7 Would he condemn
the disregard Of the rights of neutrals
ana noncombatants9 Would he take ad-
vantage of the opportunity to announce
the determination of the United States to
compel reparation from Germany The
world listened and this is what IL heard;
The example of America must be
| special example. The example of
america must be an example not only
OF peace because we will not fight, but
or peace because peace is the healing
and elevating influence of the world and
strife Is not. There is such thing as
man being too proud to fight There
is such thing as a nation being so
right that 1t does not need to convince
others by force that 1t is right
Under all the circumstances it was un.
fortunate that these words were used.
They were misinterpreted and misunder.
stood. Mr. Wilson has since explained
that he was dealing in abstract general
izations, and intended to make no COM ,
ment on what was in the mind of every {
one He has learned his lesson, and II
Is not likely that he will speak so as 10 7
be misunderstood today,
1t liz impossible for him, IL he would
be the spokesman for the nation, to say
that no circumstances can arise which
will justify 1t in a resort to force There
are times when the national self.respect
can be maintained In no other way. It .
looks now as If such time were upon
US. MIR. Wilson himself apparently be.
ieVes that 1t will soon be here il the
hour has not already struck He has
ordered virtually the whole National f.
Guard under arms, and Is sending the
'iti2en soldiers to the Mexican frontier
Is rapidly as they can be got ready. No
nan regrets the necessity for this more
han he. But events have moved too
apidly for his desires. They were in mo-
ion In Mexico when he spoke here year
go last May. The rights of Americans
cross the border were disreRarded. of
american citizens were killed by ban or
its" and the de facto Government made
10 apparent effort to punish the guilty.
american property was destroyed and
here was no effort to compel reparation.
.ife on the border was unsafe. 1t was
ecessary to keep a large part of the -,
landing army in Texas and New Mexico -
} prevent the incursion of invading
ands. But this did not prevent it.
lila crossed the border at Columbus, N. -
h. murdered and looted and escaped Il
tth large number of horses belonging
the troops statione there. Other bands "
'ossed over not long after and burned a ""
exas town and carried off some prison ;.
s. The time for action came. Patience
as no longer possible. But with brave
ow of 1t we negotiated with Carranza Hs'
r the right to send our troops across So
e border to punish the outlaws, thereby w,
operating with the Mexican Govern. oe
ent. ahe
VIII
Now we have been ordered to withdraw
r troops before they have accomplished
3 task on which they set out. Before =
; order was given they were attacked
Parral and later on were ambushed at -
rrizal, with great loss of life. -
The people stand ready to back the
sSiueHt III Whatever manly course he
y decide to follow. They are not
ased with the situation. They demand
t something be done to improve it.
The nation Is in the mood to do thor 81
;hly whatever is to be done. Every ! Sc
knows that If We can demonstrate sos sea
{ we are prepared to make good in cour
xico by the organizing of large force he
once the prospects for peace will be play
"a Oi's"te' 'iap u we oawdle along pret
finally send boy to do a mans work. 81, 1
hing but show of overwhelming
70 will induce Carranzl to back down. som s.I,'
sooner that force is put in the field wife
shorter will be any war that may vast
To- Our evident determination TO use EottI
q has already been followed by the '@'''
ase of the carrizal prisoners. II the ,-
sident makes II certain that he means W
- f''N anyt