Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-09-08

was pain case OF the Violation OF 0ul
own sovereignty which could not wait tC
be indicated by damages and for which
there was no other remedy. The authori.
ties of Mexico were powerless to prevent it
Many serious wrongs against the prop
erty, many irreparable wrongs against the
/ persons, of Americans have been commit
ted within the territory of Mexico herself
during this confused revolution, wrongs
which could not be effectually checked so
long as there was no constituted power in
Mexico which was in a position to check
them. We could not act directly in that
matter ourselves without denying Mexicans
the right to any revolution at all which
disturbed us and making the emancipa-
ton of her own people await our own in
terest and convenience.
For it is their emancipation that they
are seeking blindly, it may be. and as yet
Intellectually. but with profound and pas
sionate purpose and within their unques-
tionable right apply what true American
principle you will-any principle that an
American would publicly avow. The peo-
pie of Mexico have not been suffered to
own their own country or direct their own
institutions. Outsiders. men out of other
nations and with interests too often alien
to their own, have dictated what their
privileges and opportunities should be and
who should control their land, their lives
and their resources of them Ameri-
cans, pressing for things they could never
have got in their own country
The Mexican people are entitled to at
tempt their liberty from such influences /;
and so long as have anything to do with
the action of our Government shall do
everything in my power to prevent any.
one standing in their way. know that
this is hard for some persons to under
stand. but il is not hard for the plain people
of the United States to understand. II is
hard doctrine for those who wish to get
something for themselves out of Mexico
There are men, and noble women, too, not
few, of our own people, thank God whose
fortunes are invested in great properties
in Mexico who yet see the case with true
vision and assess its issues with true
American feeling. The rest can be left for
the present out of the reckoning until this
enslaved people has had its day Of strug-
gle towards the light. have heard no
one who was free from such influences
propose interference by the United States
with the internal affairs of Mexico. Ger
tainly no friend Of the Mexican people has
proposed it,
The people of the United States are
capable of great sympathies and noble
pity in dealing with problems of this kind.
As their spokesman and representative.
have tried to act in the spirit they would
wish me show. The people of Mexico are
striving for the rights that are fundamental
to life and happiness-l5. 100000 OPP
pressed men, overwhelmed women, and
pitiful children in virtual bondage in their
own home Of fertile lands and inexhausti-
BILE treasure Some of the leaders of the
revolution may often have been mistaken
and violent and selfish. but the revolution
itself was inevitable and is right The
unspeakable Huerta betrayed the very
comrades he served, traitorOusly overthrow
the government of which he was trusted
part, impudently spoke for the very forces
that had driven his people to the rebellion
with which he had pretended to SYM
pathize. The men who overcame him and
drove him out represent at least the fierce
passion of reconstruction which lies at the
very heart of liberty; and so long as they
represent, however imperfectly, such a
struggle for deliverance. am ready to
serve their ends when can.
So long as the power of recognition rests
with me the Government Of the United
States will refuse to extend the hand of
welcome to any one who obtains power in
sister republic by treachery and violence.
No permanency can be given the affairs of
any republic by title based upon intrigue
and assassination. | declared that to be
the policy Of this Administration within
three weeks after | assumed the Presi-
dency. | here again vow it. am more
interested in the fortunes of oppressed
men and pitiful women and children than
in any property rights whatever. Mistakes
| have no doubt made in this perplexing
business, but not in purpose or object
More is involved than the immediate
destinies of Mexico and the relations of
the United States with a distressed and
distracted people. All America looks on.
Test is now being made Of us whether we
be sincere lovers of popular liberty or not
and are indeed to be trusted to respect
national sovereignty among our weaker
neighbOrs. We have undertaken these
many years to play big brother to the re-
publics Of this hemisphere.
! This is the day Of our test whether we
mean, or have ever meant. TO play that
part for our own benefit wholly or also for
theirs Upon the outcome Of that test Tits
outcome in their minds, not in ours) de-
ponds every relationship of the United
States with Latin America. whether in
politics or in commerce and enterprise.
These are great issues and lie at the heart
Of the gravest tasks Of the future. tasks
both economic and political and very in
timately inwrOught with many Of the most
vital of the new issues Of the politics Of
the world. The republics Of America have in
the last three years been drawing together
in new spirit Of accommodation. mutual
understanding. and cordial cooperation.
Much Of the politics Of the world in the
years to come will depend upon their re-
lationships with one another. II is bar
rem and provincial craftsmanship that loses
sight of such things
The future. the immediate future, will
bring us squarely face to face with many