The Washington herald., 1916-06-21
War Would Be Righteous One.


Secretary Lansing's comprehensive letter to
the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations is
not mere example of honest, candid ntelli-
gence wasted upon the benighted and dishonest
government Of an inferior people. 1t serves
two important purposes. In the first place it
presents, in such simple terms that even the
Carranza government should be able to under
stand them, the story of the wrongs which the
people of this country have patiently endured
and calls attention to the deliberate assump-
ton, by Carranza for Mexico, of the role of
outlaw among nations. 1t points with d-
rectness to the fate that must overtake the re-
public if that role is persisted in. To this ex-
tent it is an appeal to whatever reason and
sense of justice the Carranza government may
possess. Unless Mexico is at present governed
by a band OF mad barbarians this appeal will
be needed and disaster averted. If it is ignored
the second purpose the note will serve will be
to justify the United States before the world in
accepting the challenge of a nation that chooses
to go to war in carrying out its determination
to protect murderers and robbers who invade
the territory of a friendly power. Secretary
Lansings presentation thus contributes to his
tory a chapter that will absolve the United
States no matter how far it may be led in the
conflict
Mr.. Lansing abandoned diplomatic forms in
replying to the lying insoence and arrogant
defiance of the de facto government, which he
indicted in Straightforward English that should
lose none of its force by translation into
Spanish. This indictment and the fiat refusal
to withdraw the United States troops con-
stitute the total OF what Americans may
hnd in the note that is satisfying. The rest is
an almost incredible recital OF hypocrisy, dupli-
city, deceit, lying, robbery and murder of which
the people Of the United States have been
the victims for years. The record Of wrongs
to which we have for long tamely submitted
cannot fail to bring sense of keenest humilia-
ton to our people. The note is strong enough
as it applies to the immediate situation but
it must and will be regarded as a shameful con-
tesslon OF failure in the past to protect the
honor and rights of the United States and the
lives and property of its citizens from the at
tacks of enemy boastful of its crimes and its
contempt for US.
The note should be incentive to enlistment
throughout the country Surely there is not
an able bodied American anywhere who would
hesitate to give his services should his country
need them in SO righteous a war. A new en-
phasis is given to the inexplicable and depor-
able failure to prepare even before Gen.
Pershing's expedition was started for what
now confrouts US. With proof of the hostility
Of the Carranza government forced upon it
from day to day, described by Secretary
Lansing, the Washington governments failure
to make the militia ready is incomprehensible
But that is mistake Of the past Funston's
demands for more troops that should have been
on the border weeks ago. are to be answered at
last. There will be no lack of volunteers The
sturdy youth OF the land have been impatiently
awaiting the call to its defense
We need have expectation that war will
be averted. It would be a weak and foolish
half-measure for this government to withdraw
from Mexico now for any consideration short
OF the abdication OF Carranza, who has proved
himself not only unfit to govern but lacking
IN the ordinary mental requirements of civilized
intercourse. We may even ask whether our
experience with Mexico in the last four years
has not justified a war of conquest and an
nexation.