New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-04

more. that u az the beginning or our
difficulty with Mexico under the for
mer administration, when our citizens
were murdered, instead OF compromls-
ing or hesitating. or. "a Il was. almost
apologizing, we had said that we want
Cd no trouble with Mexico, but one
thing was beyond dispute. that the
American Republic. true 20 its ancient
traditions. would protect American
rights whenever interrupted; that, m
stead Of having three hundred Amerl-
cans murdered in Mexico. the difficulty
would have been greatly lessened. II
rot wholly avoided. so far as American
rights were or are involved. That pol
icy was continued under this admins
,ration.
In 1857 A Lieutenant from the Mex
can army pursued Mexican girl across
the border into the United states,
seized her and dragged her back across
the line. The great Democrat, Grover
Cleveland. was then President OF the
United States She was a Mexican girl.
hu, she was on American territory. and
he sent the army 20 the border. with
instructions that IL should 60, II neces-
sarv. 20 the City Of Mexico 70 seize the
man who had violated the integrity OF
American territory. The result OF .,
was that this lieutenant was given over
al once and was iHcarcerated IN the
penitentisry for twenty years.
That decisive act upon the part OF
that great Democrat established order
upon the border Of Mexico for decade
TO follow. That was something the
Mexican could understand. He had 20
trouble comprehending the sturdy
of Grover Cleveland.
Firmness Is Respected.
Decision, firmness in UNFOLDING
your rights under all circumstance,
will be respected by all the nations OF
tho earth. ! say. therefore. ! am ready
and willing for the American Republic
70 20 on record 20 the effect that Amer
leans have the right to travel upon
merchant ships armed for defensive
purposes, and that the nation which
challenges that right or violates II vii
be held 10 strict accountability.
we denouuce Germany because We
do not like her system of government,
We say, and her militarism. We are
told that in that marvellous nation all
power, all action, proceeds from the
royal nod The great senate OF the
United States, the pride OF Hamilton,
the creation of the best thought and
the best conception of the fathers. was
to-day. We took precisely
the same attitude and followed the
same instruction and reached the same
results by the same method and process
az the highest legislative body OF Ger
many reaches il when the Kaiser d.
reefs action from the throne. There
was no free. open discussion. There
vas fear, there was subserviency, there
was shrinking from duty.
"I think, Mr.. President. that II was
most unfortunate 20 dispose Of this
matter as we did. am not afraid OF
war If il il necessary TO protect Amerl-
can rights. / am not afraid OF sacri-
fees III they are necessary 10 MAINTAIN
this Republic. We canno; hope TO play
part in the great affairs Of the world
4 we are not brave enough 20 make
sacrifice for our rights. | am not afraid
of that condition, but am afraid Of
the subserviency. the degradation OF
the American Senate in the eyes of the
American people-this body. which has
been characterized as the greatest leg
islative and delberative body in the
world. has no further step Of humilia-
ton TO take.
ton to take"