Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-04
~ TOLD you So"

~ TOLD YOU So
It Is not the policy of The Courier
to assume an ~ told you So ATTITUDE
But in view Of the problem that races
this country in its relations WIN
Mexico. II is not amiss to point OUT
that as far back as two years ago, TINS
paper was advocating the very course
that today seems about to be 1orceu
upon us-that of Intervention ana a
thorough policing of the revolt-torh
and bandit.ruled republic. While the
Wilson administration lodges hither
and thither in It's efforts to escape the
assumption of responsibility, conoi-
tions continue to exist which in the
minds of thinking people have oeen
calling for years for drastic action py
this nation Now our soldiers are at
the border-some of them several
hundred miles into Mexico-and bat
ties have occurred in which American
soldiers have been killed. After years
of "watchful waiting" this nation is
still unprepared to meet the issue. 1t
is not that the nation has been slow to
understand; 1t is because the admin
istration has been unwilling to act.
Had conditions two years ago been
Needed. the United States would to-
day be prepared to restore peace IN
Mexico and bring safety to Americans
there and in their own homes on this
side of the border
Following is an editorial reproduced
from the issue of The Courier for
June %, 1914, at time when South
American mediators were trying
vainly to mediate in three-cornered
way among Huerta, Carranza and the
United States. The need then, that
this country take charge OF Mexico,
was just as apaprant as it Is now:
The Mexican problem is not clear
ing up very fast. The mediators DO
not seem able to evolve definite
plan or one that they themselves have
much hope will accomplish anything.
One trouble is that those who are do
ing the fighting are not the ones who
are in favor Of arbitration. II two
men are engaged in fist fight on the
street, it will not settle the fight very
quick for two other men to sit In the
tenth story of some Office building and
try to arbitrate the fight that is going
on in the street, because they are not
in any way engaged in the trouble.
The Huertas and Zapatas and the
Villas and Carranzas and others of
lesser note continue to shoot and rob
and burn and pillage each other and
there is no evidence that anyone OF
them will ever submit to the desires
of the others.
Even if the mediators should agree
on man to act. as president OF
Mexico, their agreement will not carry
with it any guarantee that the major
ity of the citizens of Mexico will
agree to that man.
Again, If a majority should agree to
it, that does not keep considerable
minority from rebellion or continuing
one of the wings of the present rebel
lion.
The facts are that the people of
Mexico are not capable Of self-govern-
ment., Certain parts of Mexico have
been under civil government since
1921. With probably two. or three ex-
ceptions, it has never had an admin
istration that has tried to build up the
country, educate its people, develop
its resources and inaugurate any plan
for the greatest good for the greatest
number. There Is no reason, except
the lack of governmental direction,
why Mexico should not be as far ad-
yanced today as is the United States.
This government has solved it's III
dian problems because it tried to do
it by peaceful and educational
methods. The same kind of an effort
could have accomplished just as much
in Mexico as it accomplished in the
United States, but the effort was not
made. H. a ,a.
Apparently the desire to make such
an effort was not present in the diff
ferent administrations. If there had
been such a desire and effort it could
have accomplished much in the last
hundred years. A system Of public
schools maintained for twenty-five
years would have brought about a
system of majority governed munich
palities which would have had it's good
effect upon the country population.
Altogether, it would have worked for
respect for life and property rights
that would have brought to Mexico an
immigrant population that would also
have added to it's part to civilization
and respect for government. That
population would have aided rignt
minded administration to have enact
ed proper laws for the building up of
= country and the people.
~ lille it is repulsive to all civilized
sople for one country to govern
mother country by force, there is a
ceiling among a great many in this
country that the United States will
ultimately have to exercise over
Mexico some plan of government sim
Oar to that it is now exercising in the
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