The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-09

with the conclusion that we cannot
safely entrust the welfare of the
American people. the honor of the
American name and the protection OF
American citizens to an administra-
ton which has been guilty of the ac-
tons which constitute that record.
Now, l shall not review II in de-
tail. Let me say that / do not de-
fend Huerta. / have nothing to say
with respect to the recognition or non
recognition of Huerta in itself, The
point was that while the administra-
ton might have refused recognition to
Huerta, II 1t was satisfied that Huerta
could not discharge the international
obligations of Mexico, the administra-
ton had no right to make war on
Huerta as an individual for the pur-
pose of destroying the only govern
ment Mexico had.
Landed Mexico in Anarchy.
What the administration could have
done Is plain. But ii had no right to
commit this country to q course of
conduct which landed Mexico in an
archy, left our citizens a prey to the
ravages of revolution, and made our
name n word of contempt in a sister
republic.
Why, one of the foremost apologists
of the administration arose in the
Senate the other day and took the
Republican party to task for inter-
| fering with the administration desire
to recognize that eminent Sunday
School teacher, villa.
did any one ever doubt that VIII
la was an assassin. bandit whose
whole career was one OF murder and
pillage? And yet this apologist for
the administration said only the other
day In the Senate, Villas platform
and performances sounded as Of the
virtue OF the American doctrines. lib
erty. justice for the poor-for man
kind
Here is a man with government
or some kind protesting to be a pro-
visonal president.
I'VE say. down with him, Up with
the revolution Let anarchy prevail
and destroy the government! Destroy
the only government that Mexico has
and then because we do not like the
moral character of Huerta let US rush
10 the arms of this patriot, this dis
ciple of American doctrine. the BAN
dit villa: l say II Is a travesty of in
ternational policy. a disgrace to the
American people.
The Correct WAY.
Now the correct way was this: We
have no desire to get anything from
Mexico but our rights. If the ad
ministration had at the outset said to
Huerta. We will recognize YOU II you
can perform your international obli-
cations. If you have got real gov
eminent that can discharge its ruties
we won't recognize you unless we
are satisfied that you have. But there
| Is one thing that you and every one
else must understood and that -is
this: American life and property of
American citizens in Mexico must be
protected, and we will see tn It
That was the straight and correct
policy That was one thing that the
administration ought to have done and
the one thing that 1t did not do.
t,Tt Is said that the administration
has kept us ont OF war. How about
the battle OF Vera CRUZ How about
the battle Of Carrizal? Is not the soil
of Mexico wet with the blood OF our
soldiers? We have not been kept out
OF war. We got into a miserable war
from which we backed out Ignomini-
ously.
Let IT be known that II what
we propose TO do; let 1t be known
that we contemplate no meddlesome
interference with what does not con-
Germ US. Let II be known that we are
| firm in what we are entitled to de-
mand and in making good that de-
mand. Then we will have the respect
OF Mexico and the respect of every ma
ton on earth
I'VE cannot let the American spirit
fall so low as that. clasped In the
luxury occasioned by a foreign war
that we shall see American lives
sacrificed without determination TO
prevent 1t and to make the American
name honored and respected wherever
our flag flies.
Eaten Up BY Hesitation.
I'VE have allowed our words to be
eaten up by hesitation. by delay. We
have somehow or other convinced the
world that our talk Is cheap.
Now my friends. I propose that
vie have new birth. OF American
purpose and courage. We have no
occasion to fear war In the assertion
of those rights which all recognize and
only respect us for maintaining. But
II we are glib in speech, II we In
dictate that we are not ready to meet
the full responsibility that our words
imply, we are pushed a little further
and a little further and a little fur
Their until some day events occur
which arouses an implacable resent
ment from one end OF the country to
the other. That Is the danger of war
This administration has come near
landing us into war by its weakness
than 1t ever would have come had ii
stood faithfully for American rights
anu Acb II 10 hAoWN tidt tllcy Woulu
be defended.
Chicago Welcomes HuwheM
without putting so severe a tax
upon him as Detroit. Chicago enthus-
iastically welcomes Hughes
He was cheered by small crowd
at the station upon his arrival shortly
after S o'clock this morning. Five
thousand people greeted him at the
public reception rendered him at noon
In the Conway Building, where ma
tional headquarters for the West are
located He received and conferred
with score OF leaders-Republiean
and RECOMMENDING the day. had
q ride through the park system. posed
for the movie on the roof of the Black
stone talked a section OF his Detroit
speech into a photograph for cam
paign purposes and bought himself n
new panama hat and black alpaca
suit for use in the west.
The old hat went to Mrs. Upham.,
wife OF the western financial agent
of the National Committee. She is
collecting the discarded hats of ia
nous men. The dominant note OF the
day was the quiet confidence In Re-
publican circles of victory In Novem-
Der. A majority Of 3o0.o 600 for Hughes
Is tho least the leaders will predict.