Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-01

!
honor shall be maintained; whether
our prestige and influence shall be
lowered or advanced
What is the record OF the admins
tration? The first duty or the eXecu-
tive was to commend the respect of
the world by the personnel of our State
Department and our representation
abroad. No party eXigency could eX-
cuse the nonperformance of this OBJ
Vious obligation. Still, after making
every allowance for certain commend
able appointments, it is apparent that
this obligation was not performed.
AT the very beginning OF the present
administration, where in the direction
or diplomatic intercourse there should
nave been conspicuous strength and
eNpertness we had weakness and mex
pertness. Instead of assuring respect
we invited distrust of our competence
and speculation as TO our capacity for
hrmness and decision, thus entailing
many difficulties which otherwise
easily could have been escap ped.
Then, in numerous instances,
notably in Latin-America, where such
a course was particularly reprehen-
sible, and where we desire to encour-
age the most friendly relations, men
OF long diplomatic training were of
especial value TO the country, were
retired from the service, apparently
for no other reason than 10 meet
of inexperienced persons
/ Where, as in Santo Domingo, we had
/ assumed an important special trust in
I the interest of its people that trust
was shockingly betrayed in order TO
satisfy deserving Democrats"
Herrick's Removal a sample
/ The record showing the administra-
: ition's disregard of its responsibilities
/ with respect to our representation in
! diplomacy Is an open book and the
/ specifications may easily be had. II is
a record revealing professions belied.
/ II is dismal record TO those who be-
/ lteve in AmeriCaniSm.
| Take, for example. the withdrawal
/ of Ambassador Herrick from France.
I There he stood. in the midst of alarms,
the very embodiment of courage, Of
poise, OF executive capacity, univer-
sally trusted and beloved. No diplomat
| ever won more completely the affec-
tions of foreign people, and there
was no better fortune for this country
/ than TO have at the capital of any one
/ OF the belligerent nations representa-
| tive thus esteemed. Yet the admins
/ tration permitted itself TO supersede
| him.
| The point is not that the man was
! Ambassador HerriCk. or that the ma
! ton was France, but that we invited
the attention of the world 10 the mex
cuSable yielding of national interest
I to partisan eXpediency. II was n la
mentabIe sacrifice of international re-
pute.
If we would have the esteem of
foreign nations we must deserve it.
We must show our regard for special
knowledge and experience. I propose
that we shall make the agencies of
our diplomatic intercourse in every
nation worthy of the American name.
Promoted Anarchy in Mexico
Tho DEALING nf tho admin fioT,
with Mexico constitute a confused
/ chapter of blunders. We have not
/ helped Mexico. She lies prostrate,
/ impoverished, famine stricken. over
whelmed with the woes and outrages
of intcTnecine strife, the helpless VIC
tim of a condition of anarchy which
the course of the administration only
served to promote.
/ For ourselves. we have witnessed
the murder of our citizens and the
destruction of their property. We
have made enemies. not friends In
stead of commanding respect and de-
serving good will by sincerity. firm
ness and consistency. we provoked
Misrepresentation and deep resent
ment.
In the light of the conduct Of the
administration no one could under
stand its professions. Decrying inter-
ference, we interfered most eXasper-
.
of actual conflict and the soil Of
Mexico is stained with the blood OF
our soldiers. We have resorted to
physical invasion. only TO retire with
out gaining the professed object. It
is a record which cannot be examined
without a profound sense of humilia-
ton.
When the administration came into
power Huerta was exercising authority
as provisional president OF Mexico. He
was certainly in fact the mead of the
, government of Mexico. Whether or
not he should be recognized was a
question TO be determined IN the exer-
else of a sound discretion, but accord
ing 10 correct principles.
The president was entitled TO be as
sured that there was at least a de facto
government; that International obliga-
/ tions would be performed; that the
/ lives and property Of American citizens
would have proper protection. To at
| tempt, however. to control the domes-
| tic concerns of Mexico, was simply in
| Itervention, not less so because dis
claimed. The height of folly was TO
| have a vacillating and ineffective in
/ tervention, which could only evoke
! bitterness and contempt, which would
/ fail TO pacify the country and to as
sure peace and prosperity under
stable government.
/ Banned Hucrta, Patronized Villa
/ If crimes were committed. we do
not palliate them. We make no de-
/ Tense of Huerta. But the administra-
/ ton had nothing to do with the moral
character of Huerta. if in fact he rep
| resented the government of Mexico
/ We shall never worthily prosecute our
unselhsh aims or serve humanity BY
/ wrong
So far as the character of Huerta is
concerned; the holiowness of the pre-
I tensions on this score is revealed by
/ the administrations subsequent pat
/ ronage of Villa (whose qualifications
/ as an assassin are indisputable), whom
/ apparently administration was ready
/ to recognize had he achieved his end
and fulfilled what then seemed to be
! its hope.
The question is not as to the non
/ recognition of Huerta. The admins
/ tration did not content itself with re-
I fusing to recognize Huerta, who was
! recognized by Great Britain, Germany,
| France, Russia, Spain and Japan. The
ad ministration undertook to destroy
Huerta, to control Mexican politics,
even to deny Huerta the right to be a
/ candidate for the Office of president at
the election the administration de-
manded.
/ With what bewilderment must the
Mexicans have regarded our assertion
of their right to manager their
/ own affairs. In the summer of 1913
John Lind was dispatched to the City
! of Mexico as the president "nersonaI