The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-06-30


have destroyed American property,
committed outrage after outrage upon
American citizens. They have assault
ed women and murdered men who had
right to claim the protection of the
American government. They have
time after time crossed the border
and even murdered the soldiers of the
United States.
They have done all of this with Inn
punity. Our government has, 1t Is
true, sent number of very interest
ing and ably written diplomatic notes,
phrased in high-s0unding terms, telling
Of our devotion to the rights of hui
mainly and of our affection for the
people Of Mexico. This is all Now
even If the Mexicans were educated
and could read and understand the
fine sentiments expressed in these
notes, they would be incapable of ap-
preciating them. The Mexicans are
not to be dealt with upon such terms.
Only force, the power of might, a tirm
and unyielding policy, will impress the
Mexicans.
AS the result of this governments
vacillating course, it lacks of decision,
under both Taft and Wilson, demo-
Gratis and republicans, its repeated fail
ure to protect either the lives or the
property Of it's citizens, small wonder
that the ignorant Mexicans have
reached the conclusion that the hated
"Gringoes" are too cowardly or too
selfish to bring them back to book.
We are responsible for this Mexican
estimate Of our national character. 1t
is justified under all of the circum-
stances.
We have sent thousands of soldiers
into Mexico upon so-called punitive
expedition, to make war upon an In
dividaal or a faction. These soldiers
have obtained no results. Some OF
them have been ambushed and slain
by the faction that at this particular
time our government is coddling. The
ambush will occasion no surprise.
Every citizen in this section who ex-
pressed himself said at the time OF
the pursuit of Villa that they were
more concerned about the attitude of
the Carranza faction than they were
about the villa gang. The expected
really happened. There IL no differ
ence whatever between the Carranza
forces and the makeup of the Villa
bandits. They are all the same peo-
pie. Blood is thicker than water.
Both are Mexicans, both hate the
Americans. Why send thousands Of
men into Mexico at an enormous ex-
pense to chase one man. Even il Villa
is caught and our forces retire, what
has been accomplished?
Does anyone believe that the border
will be safer; that American lives and
property In Mexico will be any safer?
As q matter of fact, have We not ag-
gravated the situation? Even lay
man can see these things, that the
administration for FIVE
years has been incapable Of under
II would have been much
better never to have sent single SOL
1ier into Mexico If their activities are
going to be confined alone to a man
hunt, or war upon a fast diminishing
action:
The administration should either
promptly withdraw every soldier from !
Mexico, announce to the world that it
will not protect the life or the prop
,rty OF an American across the border,
,aild a wall along the Rio Grande to
,rotect our border, or else It should
,ive the Mexicans, not faction,
borough threshing, obtain full repara-
ion for all the outrages that have
,een committed against American
ives and property and establish and
maintain government that will be
trong enough to rule the poor, ig-
lorant wretches who inhabit Mexico.
The latter alternative will cost some
reasure and some blood, but it is the
My solution of the Mexican POLLEN.
sooner or later it will have to be
one WHY not do II now? Why LET c