New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-23
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
! Sir: Our world is full of bloodshed and
despair The only nation capable OF exertlng
any real moral influence upon the destiny OF
the nations is the United States AS never
before this world needs the American IDEA!
Of human rights-fair play and the right OF
every individual to the fruit of his own labor,
TO his liberty and to his life. Mr.. wilson
has had just one opportunity OF preaching
this ideal in effective fashion-mslntainlng
the rights Of his fellow citizens, whether at
home, in China, Mexico Turkey or on the
wastes of the seas. Even the heather, wnen
compelled to treat an American right, can
from that very example learn to treat eacn
other right To treat the rights OF felIo"
citizen in Mexico as matter Of little or no
concern is to play traitor 70 the rights OF
humanity.
There has never been such an opportunity
to give to our people and to our children
after us the freedom Of the world-to make
Americans free wherever they so and TO
make each of our sons and neghbors who
20 abroad for profit or pleasure living
epistle of freedom to the world.
Our nation is founded upon the blood OF
those who fought for freedom within our
bounds We build monuments to these
patriots not 70 those who kept US OUT OF
war" How much greater the achievement
could we but attain to world freedom 'o'
ourselves and others.
Mr. Wilson'S failure has been the same IN
Furone in Asia. on the sea and in Mexico
In Mexico he began has policy with inc
dictum. not Of American rights for American
citizens but. "Huerta must 60" Instead OF
sending soldiers and gentlemen to do tn's
work. he employed tie bandit Villa, with the
license OF abundant. arms and ammunition
and his Presidential blessing. villa, natura, :
Ilv proceeded TO fill that unhappy land WIN
blood and rapine. Religious people were I"e
special objects of his venomous lust pu'
! Villa did not fail to turn against those wnom
he was supposed to protect, and now 1t pe-
comes evident that Villa must CO. ana 80
Carranza's generals, not whit better IMAM
Villa. are encouraged to fill their miserable
country with still other trails OF SIN ana
despair-and also to protect American GU.
zcns in their rights-in the same way, OF
course. that Villa did.
II Mr. Wilson had been playing the part
Of Mexicos evil genius he could hardly nave
done greater mischief TO that bankrupt Iahu
than he has done.
Suppose he had possessed the moral cour-
age TO follow IN the beginning made with MS
Vera Cruz expedition. He would have sent
another force to Tampico and, later on. an
other and still another force TO other places
where he had good reason and better riGh'
70 send them Just as happened at Vera Cruz
each post so occupied would have been an
isle of peace and prosperity in the midst OF
that sea Of wretchedness. From these centres
the Mexicans themselves could have organized
the enforcement Of their own peace. Amerl-
cans would have been known for generations
"a come as the saviors OF Mexico, and Mex
leo herself could have paid The cost OF THIS
protection thrice over. and it would have
been cheap at the price
Instead, treaty rights and human rights 70
the contrary. our people have been chased
out of that country by miserable banditti' and
our President has not even dared TO ask
reparation for the blood Of our soldier boys
rhot down while executing his orders. The
name American is a scorn and byword all
through the land. Every American there VINO
has trusted in the virtue Of his Citizenship
has trusted to his own ruin. The country