Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-11

| The Administration has at last decided.
! Anarchy along the border must end. villa
| must he put out of the way. Peace must
reign in Mexico even N we have to
force II with the baNOnct. The possibility
oC complications while grcnt cannot deter
the nation in the performance Of Il boundcn
duty
A LONG series Of outrages, in which the
a United states has given the appearance
of acquiescence by unpa alleed patience and
tolerance has resulted finally in a sort Of
anarchy within our own borders. The depre.
dations Of the Mexican bandits are of such
character that not even an optimist can ex.
pect any permanent relief for American citi-
zcns along the border until the extirpation of
these outlaws is accomplished. Such extirpa-
tion is not possible except through the active
work Of the United states itself. the futility of
the Carran2a Governments efforts TO preserve
order having been long since established.
There remains therefore but one thing for
Washington to do. on the proper course It
has determined after long period Of hesi-
taton. The program will be backed by the
virtually unanimous approval Of American
citizens IL it should appear however, that
the Administrations decision is impulse
and not "A deliberate conclusion, to be reso.
lutey followed, there will result no gain what.
ever to this nation. 1t win instead be
reader prey for any other set of bandits that
may decide to wage war.
The country is against another expedition
of the sort that went to Vera cruz. 1t expects,
as it has right to expect, that this time
there will be no withdrawal until the objects
of the ncursion have been achieved. 1t looks
to the Administration to pursue with vigor the
course now begun, he the cost what it may.
Thera can be no cost comparable to tho
humiliation visited upon a people who are
unwilling to fight for their rights and to
viudicate them on all occasions
1t is proper that the American people should
realize the potential gravity of the situation.
General Scott, who is one of the best informed
men in the country in his knowledge of the
Mexican character, makes no secret of his
fears that our action may be misunderstood.
The Carran2a forces have not suddenly been
purified. Thy one with the bandits under
Villa, so far as love of spoils is concerned. All
alike are adyenturers and it may well suit
the purposes of the several leaders to unite
in a so-calIed patriotic" war against the in
vader If thev do, not 10000 nor even twice
10000 men will be sufficient to reduce the
country TO order.
Villa may realize his hopes and by his
boldness join to him in general defense Mex-
not believe it, for we are convinced that the
great masses of MeXicans are weary of the
chaos IN which they have been enveloped
But it is just as we'll for citizens to realize
that the expedition may become an army of
occupation, in which case it will be months
and years, instead Of days and weeks before
a return to normal conditions may reasonably
he anticipated. We take it that public opin-
ion is prepared to face the consequences, be
they what they may. The character of the
country favors the bandits, and it will be re-
mcmbered that the Italians had a hard time
of it in TripoIi. The American soldier will
give a good account of himself no matter
what the difficulties, but peace on the frontier
will not be won without some losses.
That there will be rest and quiet and lasting
peace is assured. What happened in Mica.
ragua may happen in Mexico, 1t is hard that
a great, peace-loving nation should be COM
PEELED to deal with a hghwayman among
nations, but the police duty is ours not only
as result of our coseness to Mexico but
also on account of the hegemony which we
assume in this hemisphere, It is duty we
have too long neglected
The end of Villa and of brigandage is in
sight II may not be tomorrow or the next
day, but it is as certain as the setting OF the
sun, The prayer of the nation is that it may
be achieved without too great loss of good
American lives lives which are, however,
willingly offered in the furtherance of our
good purposes