The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-10-12
WILSON'S PERU
PROTEGE IS WORSE
THAN HUERTb
Recognized Benaddes as Presi-
cent After He Rad Obtained
Power In a Sister Republic
by TreaChery and Violence.
ACT DOES NOT SQUARE WITH
SNUG DIcTUM IN HIS SPEECH

Latin American Diplomats Amazed
When They Read the Presidents Ex-
P!anaticn of His Mexican PoIicy-In-
formed Tkeir Governments That MIR.
Wilson's Personal Whims Doubtless
Were TO De His Guides In Conducting
This Governments Latin American
Policy.
Latin American diplomats are amaz-
ed at the statement in President VIII
sons speech Of acceptance; so long
as the power Ct recognition rests with
ne, the government Of the United
States will refuse to extend the hand
Of welcome to any one who obtains
power i'll o sister republic by treachery
and violence
This is the presidents explanation
CT his refusal to recognize Huerta and
e lis Mexican policy. Yet the 'ecords
lcw that President Wilson has de-
NLe"3tely vi lated this dictum in sew
eraI instances since the case Of Huerta
arose.
The mos. Gagrant example was the
presidents recognition extended to
Colonel Benavides, head Of the revolu-
tionary government in Peru, in Febru-
airy, 1914. His government was found
ed on assassination, established by as
sassinatiou and had no vestige of CON
stitutiqpa] 2Nlority aack Of it. It
;a@p ..to ptTlr I'll FEB. i, l9i4, when
Colonel Banaviles led the garrison
troops against the national palace at
Lima, imprisoned President Billing
hurst and assassinated the minister Of
war and all others who opposed the
coup d'etat e -.
More fragrant Than Mexico.
Minister McNGillin reported these
facts fully to Washington and assum-
ed that this government would de-
cline to sanction the newly establish
ed regime. The case was identical
with the Huerta case in Mexico, en-
cept a much more fragrant violation Of
the spirit Of popular government HUI
erta had Madero and Vice President
Suarez imprisoned, but he became
president of Mexico under provisions
of the constitution providing for the
succession of the minister of foreign
affairs upon the disability of the pres
ident. Huerta's accession to the pres
idency was confirmed by the Mexican
| congress.
Benayides came into power simply oy
killing those who opposed him. His
acts had no basis whatever in the con.
stitution of the country and were not
confirmed by the Peruvian congress.
His sole backing was a junta of con-
/ spirators, which forced their will on
the unapproving people by means of
ready rife bullets. Under these cir.
/ cumstances Minister McNIillin natural.
ly assumed that President Wilson
would have nothing to do with Bena-
vides and his tunta. The president
shortly before this had stated in a
speech at Mobile Ala: I'VE must fol-
low the course of high principle, not
eXpediency. no matter what the pres
sure. To do otherwise would be I'M
true to ourselves"
Envoy Is Surprised.
Mr. McMillin was therefore mildly
surprised when he was instructed by
President Wilson to call on the newly
established Benavides and graciously
confer the recognition of the United
States Government upon him.
In explaining this the President sim
ply said that ''eXpediency dictated the
recognition Of the revolutionary gov
prDmpDt of Porn A" He TOLD HE o11-icorc