Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-01

american citizens would have proper
protection. To attempt, however, to
control the domestic concerns of Mex
leo was simply intervention, not less SO
because disclaimed. The height of folly
was to have a vacillating and ineffective
intervention, which could only evoke
bitterness and contempt, which would
fail to pacify the country and to assure
peace and prosperity under a stable gov.
eminent. If crimes were committed, we
do not palliate them. We make no de-
Tense of Huerta But the Administration
had nothing to do with the moral char
acter Of Huerta, if in fact he represent
ed the Government of Mexico. We shall
never worthily prosecute our unselfish
aims, or serve humanity. by wrong
headedness. So far as the character of
Huerta is concerned, the hollowness of
the pretensionS on this score is re-
vealed by the Administrations subse-
quent patronage of Villa Whose quail
lhcatlons as an assassin are indisput-
able) whom apparently the Admins
tration was ready to recognize had he
achieved his end and fulfilled when
then seemed to be its hope.
The question is not as to the nom
recognition of Huerta. The Admins
tration did not content itself with re-
fusing to recognized Huerta, who was
recognized by Great Britain, Germany
France, Russia. Spain and Japan. The
Administration undertook to destroy
Huerta, to control Mexican politics.
even to deny Huerta the right to be
candidate for the Office of President
at the election the Administration de-
manded. With what bewilderment must
the Mexicans have regarded our as
sertion of their right to manage their
own affairs. In the summer of 1913,
John Lind was despatched to the City
of Mexico as the Presidents personal
spokesman and representative" to the
unrecogniZed Hurta in order to de-
mand that the latter eliminate himself.
1t was an unjustifiable mission, most
offensive to a sensitive people. John
Lind fingered irritatingly. The Ad-
ministration continued to direct its eff
forts at the destruction Of the only
Mexico had.
In the spring of 1914. occurred the
capture of Vera Cruz. Men from one
of our ships had been arrested at Tam
pico and had been discharged with an
apology. But our admiral demanded
a salute. which was refused. There
upon the President went to Congress,
skiing authority to use the armed
forces of the United States. Without
waiting for the passage of the reSolu-
ton, Vera Cruz was seized. 1t APP
peared that shipload of ammunition
for Huerta was about to enter that
port There was a natural opposition
to this invasion and battle occurred
in which 10 Americans and over
hundred MeXicans were killed This.
of course. was war. Our dead SOL
diers were praised for dying like he
roes in a war of service. Later, we
retired from Vera Cruz, giving up this
noble warfare. We had not obtained
the salute which was demanded. we
had not obtained reparation for af-
fronts The snip with ammunition,
which could not land at Vera Cruz,
had soon landed at another port, and
its cargo was delivered to Huerta
without interference. Recently the
naked truth was admitted by Cabi-
net officer We are now informed that
I'VE did not go to Vera Cruz to force
Huerta to salute the flag" We are
IOlO tf1dt we Welt lIIcIc " SioN A"Sn
leo that we were in earnest in our de-
mand that Huerta must 60" That is,
we seized Vera Cruz to depose Huer-
ia. The question Of the salute was
mere preteXt
Meanwhile, the Administration ut
terly failed to perform its obvious duty
to secure protection for the lives and
property of our citizens. 1t is most
unworthy to slur those who have in
vestments in Mexico in order to es-
cape a condemnation for the non-per-
Torrance Of this duty. There can be
no such escape, for we have no debate,
and there can be no debate. as to the
existence of this duty on the part OF
our Government. Let me quote the
words of the Democratic Platform OF
1912: 1.-THE constitutional rights of
American citizens should protect
them on our borders, and go Win
them throughout the world, and every
American citizen residing or having
property in any foreign country is en-
titled to and must be given the full pro-
lection of the United States Govern
ment. both for himself and his prop
erty." The bitter hatred aroused by the
course OF the ADMINISTRATOR huAeiPAAeu
outrages, while our failure to afford pro-
lection to our citizens evoked the scorn
and contempt of Mexicans. Consider the
ignominious incident at Tampico IN con-
nection with the capture of Vera Cruz.
In the midst of the greatest danger to
the hundreds of Americans congregated
at Tampico, our ships which were In
the harbor were withdrawn and our citi-
zens were saved only by the interven-
ton of German officers and were taken
away by British and German ships. The
official excuse Of the secretary of the
navy is an extraordinary commentary.
Our ships, it seems, had been ordered to
Vera Cruz but as it appeared that they
were not needed, the order was rescind-
ed Then, we are told. our admiral was
faced with this remarkable dilemma.
If he attempted to go up the river at
Tampico and take our citizens on board,
the word Of aggressive action" as the
secretary called it. would have spread
to the surrounding country" and 1t was
almost certain that reprisals on Amer
lean citizens would have followed and
lives would have been lost" We had
so incensed the Mexicans that we could
not rescue our own citizens at Tampico,
save at the risk Of the murder of others.