The copper era and Morenci leader., 1916-07-07
WILSON AND MEXICO.


 President Wilson has never want ed war. In the days when his oppo- nentS attacked him and tried to goad him into the use of the armed forces of the United States, he remained steadfast to his determination that the blood of young American soldiers should never be shed except as the last recourse in the effort to uphold the honor of the nation.
 Once, when even graver eventuali- ties were threatened, the patience of President Wilson's statesmanship was rewarded by diplomatic victory that made the shedding of blooI un- necessary It was the Presidents S previous moderation that gave such force to the ominous ultimatum which brought full concession to the rights Of America and humanity. No President in the history of the United States has ever placed the cause of the people of the United States upon higher plane. No President has ever struggled more valiantly to preserve peace with honor. His critics have proved the case for President Wilson. Their un- animous approval of his present course has not dulled the edge of his desire for honorable peace.
 The immortality of the President in the face of selfish and partisan criticism, coming from those who thought more of personal advantage than of the welfare of the nation, has been the best security of the Ameri can people throughout the time the world has been darkened by war clouds.
 If the sword of righteousness must now be unsheathed, the American people know that it is because peace full means have been exhausted. If the sword is raised to strike, it is be- cause the head of the de facto govern ment of Mexico refuses to respect the rights of America.
 No President has ever tried so hard to interpret the real spirit of America. MT. Wilson has said that he would rather know what the men and women, gathered around their own fireside, are saying than to listen to the orations of the self-appointed
 In his handling of the Mexican problem, President Wilson has been guided by the single impulse to do what the American people would have him do-to exhaust all the peaceful means at his disposal to pro tect the lives and property of Ameri- cans, and, failing in that to uphold the honor and dignity of the nation by the use of it's armed forces.
 The note written by the State De- partment to General Carranza in re- sponse to his threat to attack the American troops presented the com plete case of the American Govern ment against Mexico. As in the Flu ropean situation, when the ultima tum with it's ominous note brought full concessions, it marked the end of President Wilson's patience.
 The lives of the American soldiers in Mexico, soldiers who were sent there to protect the border from the raids of bandits, bent on murderlnS Americans, had been threatened.
 .n the might of righteousness, the sword of America was then raised to strike, and in the struggle that threatens, the nation enters upon it's task with a clean and fearless heart.
 Behind the President, who has so truly represented the charitable spirit of the American people, be- hind the President now in his grim determination to use the. full mili- ta1y and naval strength of the na- tion in support or the American troops in Mexico, stand the mighty host of patriotic Americans, united, valiant and conscious of the faithful ness of their leader to the ideals of real Americanism.