Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-04-04

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his powers as president to secure pro
lection for the lives and property o
Americans In Mexico and to reQuir'
that rules Of law and stipulations O
treaties should be observed by Mexic'
toward the United States and its cid
zens. His duty was, second, as tn
head Of foreign power to respect tn
independence Of Mexico, to refrail
from all interference with her interna
/ affairs, from all attempt at domina
ton except as he was justified by tn
law Of nations for the protection O.
American rights. The president Of th'
United States failed to observe eithe
Of those duties. He deliberately aban
doned them both and followed an en-
urely different and Inconsistent pur
pose. He intervened in Mexico to ait
one faction In civil strife against an
other. He undertook to pull dowI
Huerta and set Carranza up in hii
place. Arms and munitions Of wa
were freely furnished to the northern
| forces and withheld from Huerta
Finally the president sent our arm!
and navy to invade Mexico and cap
ture its great seaport, Vera Cruz, ant
hold it-and throttle Mexican commerce
until Huerta fell ~
Americans Outraged In Mexico.
The government Of the United States
intervened in Mexico to control the In
ternal affairs of that Independent coun
try and to enforce the will OF thu
American president in those affairs BY
threat, by economic pressure and by
force Of arms. Upon what claim o'
right did this Intervention proceed
Not to secure respect for American
rights, not to protect the lives or prop
erty of our citizens, not to assert thu
laws of nations, not to compel observ
ance Of the law Of humanity. On thu
contrary, Huerta's was the only power
In Mexico to which appeal could bt
made for protection Of life or property
That was the only power which, II
fact, did protect either American Of
European or Mexican. 1t was only
within the territory where Huertt
ruled that comparative peace and or
der prevailed. The territory ovel
which the armed power Of Carranzs
and villa and their associates extended
was the theater. IF the most appalling
crimes. Bands of robbers roved thu
country with unbridled license. Amer
leans and Mexicens alike were at theil
mercy, and American men were mur
dered and American women were out
ragged with impunity. Thousands were
reduced to poverty by the wanton de
struction Of the industries through
which they lived. Yet the government
Of the United States ignored, con
doned, the murder Of American mer
and the rape Of American women and
destruction Of American property and
insult to American officers and defle
ment Of the American flag and Joined
itself to the men who were guilty OF
all these things to pull down the pow
er Of Huerta. Why? The president
himself has told us. It was because
he adjudged Huerta to be usurper
because he deemed that the common
people Of Mexico ought to have great
er participation In government and
share In the land, and he believed that
Carranza and Villa would give them
these things. We must all sympathize
with these sentiments, but there is
nothing more dangerous than mis-
placed sentiment.
When our army landed at Vera Cru1
Carranza himself, who was to be the
chief beneficiary Of the act, publicly
protested against it. SO strong was
the resentment that he could not have
kept his followers otherwise. When
Huerta had fallen the new government
which for the day had succeeded tc
his place peremptorily demanded the
withdrawal Of the American troops
The universal sentiment Of Mexicans
required the peremptory demand, and
the troops were withdrawn. Still
worse than that, the taking Of Vera
Cruz destroyed confidence In the sin.
cerity Of the American government in
Mexico, because every Intelligent man
in Mexico believed that the av0wed
reason for the act was not the real
reason. The avowed purpose was to
compel salute to the American flag
Three hundred Mexicans were report.
ed killed; seventeen United States ma.
rines were killed and many were
wounded. At that very time Mr.. Bry.
an, with the presidents approval, was
signing treaties with half the world
agreeing that If any controversy should
arise it should be submitted to a Joint
commission and no action should be
taken until after q full year had elaps-
ed. This controversy, slight as it was,
arose on the 9th Of April, and on the
21st of the same month Vera Cruz
was taken. With the occupation OF
Vera Cruz the moral power Of the
United States In Mexico ended. We
were then and we are now hated fol
what we did to Mexico, and we were
then and we are now despised for our
feeble and irresolute failure to protect
the lives and rights Of our citizens. No
flag Is 80 dishonored and no citizenship
10 little worth the claiming in Mexico
a. ours. And that Is why we have
failed in Mexico.
Policy Of "WatehfuI Waiting"
Incredible as it seems, Huerta had
been, turned out by the assistance Of
the American government without any
guarantees from the men who were to
be set up In his place, and 80 the mur.
dering and burning and ravishing have
gone on to this day. After Huerta
had fallen and the Vera Cruz expedi.
don had been withdrawn President
Wilson announced that, no, one was
entitled to interfere In the affairs Of
Mexico; that she was entitled to settle
them herself. He disclaims all re-
sponsibilty for what happens In Mex
leo and contents himself with pol
Icy Of watchful waiting. And for the
death and outrage, the suffering and
ruin Of our own brethren, the. hatred
and contempt for our country and the
dishonor of our name In that land the
administration at Washington shares
responsibility with the inhuman brutes
with whom It made common cause.