Spray courier. (Spray, Or.) 1???-19??, 1916-04-13

tic lives and rishts Of our citizens. No
Eag e 40 dlshcn0fcd and no citizenship
% little worth The claiming In Mexico
as ours. And that IS why we hayo
failed IN MeSlco.
Policy Of "Watohful Waitingp
Incredible as It seems, Iluerta had
been turned out by tho assistance Of
the American government without any
guarantees from the men who were to
10 Ect ~ In his placc, ana so the mur.
dcring ana burning aud rayishlng have
gone on 10 tlls day. After I'cra
Lad fallen ana tho Vera cruz expedi.
| ton had been withdrnWn President
Wil&on announced that no one was
I entitled 10 Interfere IN the affairs OF
I Mexico; that che was entitled 10 settle
! them herself. He disclnln8 all re-
/ sponslbility for what happens III Mc%-
leo and contents himself with u pol.
i icy Ol watchful waiting. Ind for the
I death aud outrage. the suffering ana
/ ruin Of our own brethren, the hatred
and contempt for cur country and the
disholor Of our name in that land tic
administration Mt Washington shares
rogpolslbilily With $50 lnhuman brute5
With whom IT. made COMMON cause.
when we turn TO tie administra-
tion'J conduct Of foreign affairs Incl.
dent 10 TIE great war IN Europe we
cannot fnil 10 perceive that there Il
much dlsaatisflctlon among Amcrl-
cans. Dissatisfaction rs not In itself
ground for condemnation. The sitH.
alton created by tho war has been diff
cult and trying. Much Of the corre-
spondcucc of the state department.
especially since Mr.. Lansing took
charge, has been characterized by ac-
cur1ic learning and Sklll1ul statement
u specific american rights.
Three Errers In European Policy.
a study Of the administration pol.
Icy toward Earopo since July. 1911,
reveals three Fundamental errors: First.
the lack OF foresight to make timely
provision for backing up American di.
plomacy by actual or assured military
ana naval force: second. the fOrfc-
ture Of the worlds respect for our as
tfAa titai Va lst Atlt ~ lsLiG44Ai- l44c lb1llIg
Of making threats and failing to make
them good; third, loss of the moral
forces Of the civilized world through
failure 10 truly interpret to the world
Inc spirit of the American democracy
IN itg attitude toward the terrible
events which accompanied the early
stpEeg OF the war.
First. rs 10 power:
When the war in Europe began free,
peaceahic litfle Switzerland Instantly
modified upon her frontier a great
army OF trained citizen soldiers. Stur-
dy little Holland did the came and
both have kept their territory and their
independence inviolate.
Great. peaceable America was farther
removed from the conflict, but her
trace and her citizens Travelled on ev-
cry sen. Ordinary knowledge of En-
ropean affairs made It plain that the
war was begun not BY accident, but
with purpose which would net soon be
rclinquishcd. Ordinary knowledge Of
military events made i. plain from the
moment when the tiCc Of German inva-
sion turned from the battle of the
Marine that the conflict was certain to
be long and desperate. Ordinary knowl-
edge of history-of our own history
during the Napoleonic wars-made 1t
plain that in that conflict neutral rights
would be worthless unless powerfully
maintained.
The Democratic government at Wash
ington did not see it. Others saw it.
and their opinions found voice. Mr.
Gardner urged it. Mr.. Lodge urged it.
Mr.. Stimson urged it, Mr. Roosevelt
urged 1t. but their argument and Ur-
gency were ascifbed to political mo-
tiycs, and the president described them
with SINGER as nervous and excited.
Wilson Has Shifted Ground.
But the warning voices would not be
stilled The opinion that we ought no
longer to remain defenseless became
public opinion. Its expression grew
more general and iGsistcnt. and finally
the president, not leading but follow
ing, has shifted his ground. has rcvers-
cd his position and asks the country to
prepare a%anGl war God grant that
lie he net 90 late. But the Democrat
ic party has not shifted its ground. A
large part of its members ip congress
are cndeavoring now to sidctracS the
movement for national preparedness,
to muddle il by amendment ard turn
It into channels which will produce the
least possible result i'll the increase of
HationIl power OF defense What
sense of effectiveness in this effort can
We gather from the presence of Jose
phus Daniels Mt the most critical post
of all-the head OF the navy depart
mcnt-Mhen we see that where
preparation has been possible it has
not been made, when we see that con
struction OF warships already author
ICED has not been pressed and IN some
cases after long Ge!ay has not even
been begun?
If an increase CT our country's power
to defend itself against aggression is
by the present congress it
must be largely through Republican
votes, because all the traditions and
convictions of that party are for ma
tional power and duty and honor.
AS to the policy of threatening words