The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-01

49, ~ 49,
nized Carranza, not on the ground that
he had q constitutional government
but that It was Q de facto government.
The complete failure to secure protec.
ton to American citizens is shown
conclusively In the note Of the secre
tary Of state OF Juno o.tls1e.
THE Santa Ysabel; massacre. the
raid on Columbus. the !bloodshed at
Carrizal. are fresh in your minds. After
the Columbus raid we started punt.
tive expedition We sent q thin line
OF troops hundreds OF miles into Mex.
leo, between two lines. Of railway,
neither of which we were allowed to
use and which we did not feel at lib
erty to seize. We were refused per
mission TO enter the towns. Though
thus restricted. the enterprise was still
regarded by the Mexloans as Q
menace. Our q troops faced hostile
forces and It. 10, not remarkable that
our men fell at Carrissl What other
result could heeexpscted? We ara
virtually ordered to Withdraw, and
without accomplishing our purpose we
have been Withdrawing Sand we are
now erdeavoring. to safeguard our own
territory. The entire national guard
has been ordered out and many thou.
sands of our citizens have been taken
from their peaceful employment and
hurried to the Mexican border. The
administration Yves to seize and pun.
ish Villa for his outrage onsIour soil.
1t has not punished any one; we went
in only to retire, and future: move
ments are apparently to be determined
by Joint commission.
THE nation has no policy Of az.
erosion toward Mexico. We have no
desire for any Of her territory. We
wish to have peace, stability and pros.
perity. We should be ready to aid
her in binding up her wounds. IN re-
lieving her from starvation and dis.
tress and in giving her in every prac.
ticable way the benefits Of our dis.
interested friendship. The conduct Of
this administration has created diff.
cultles which we shall have to sur.
mount. We shall have to overcome
the antipathy needlessly created by
that conduct and to develop genuine
respect and confidence. We shall have
to adopt new policy, policy of firm.
ness and consistency through which
alone we can promote an enduring
friendship. We demand from Mexico
the protection of the lives and the
property Of our citizens and the Sc.
curity OF our border from depreda.
tons. Much will be gained IL Mexico
is convinced that we contemplate no
meddlesome interference with what
does not concern US, but we propose
to insist In a firm and candid man.
ner upon the performance OF interna.
tional obligations. To a stable gov.
eminent, appropriately discharging It's
international duties. we should give
ungrudging support. A short period
Of firm, consistent and friendly deal
ing will accomplish more than many
years of vacillation."
Discussing the European war and
the maintenance Of American rights
Mr.. Hughes declared that national Sc
curity demands that there shall be no
faltering with American rights" Con.
tinuing he said:
1--WE countenance no covert policies,
no intrigues. no secret schemes. We
are unreservedly, devotedly. whole.
hartedly for the United States. That
Is the rallying point for all Americans.
That Is my position. stand for the
unfiinching maintenance Of all Amert
can rights on land and sea.
eve have had clear and definite
mission as q great neutral nation. II
was for Us to maintain the integrity
OF international law to vlndicate our
rights as neutrals, to protect the lives
Of our citizens. their property and
trade from wrongful acts. At least
we were entitled to the safeguarding
Of American rights, but this has not
been secured. We have had brave
words In a series Of notes, but despite
our protests the lives OF Americans
have been destroyed. What does II
avail to use some Of the strongest
words known to diplomacy II ambas.
sailors can receive the impression that
the words are not to be taken serious.
ly? 1t Is not words, but the strength
and resolution behind the words that
count. Had this government by the
use Of both informal and formal dlplo
matte opportunities left no doubt that
when we said strict accountability
we meant precisely what we said and
that we should unhesltatingly vindi.
cate that position, am confident
that there would have been no de-
struction Of American lives by the
sinking Of the Lusitania. Moreover. a
firm American policy would have been
strongly supported by our people and
the opportunity for the development
Of bitter feeling would have been vast.
~ reduced.
ut 80 q great mistake to say that