Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-08-02
ACCEPTING THE
NOMINATION
Continued from first page.)

Cruz, Mr.. Hughes says: 1--WE are now
Informed that we did not go to Vera
Cruz to force Huerta to salute tho
flag. We are told that we went there
to show Mexico that we were in earn
go. That is, we seized Vera Cruz to
depose Huerta. The question Of the
salute was a mere preteXt.
Meanwhile, the administration ut
terly failed to perform its obvious duty
TO secure protection for the lives and
property of our citizens. The bitter
hatred aroused by the course of the
administration multiplied outrages,
while our failure to afford protection
to our citizens evoked the scorn and
contempt of MeXicans. Consider the
ignomious incident at Tampico in con-
nection with the capture of Vera Cruz.
In the midst of the greatest danger to
the hundreds of Americans congre-
gated at Tampico, our ships which
were in the harbor were withdrawn
and our citizens were saved only by
the intervention of German officers
and were taken away by British and
German ships.
Destroying the government of
Huerta, we left Mexico to the ravages
of revolution. | shall not attempt to
narrate the sickening story of the bar
barities committed, of the carnival Of
murder and lust. We were then told
that Mexico was entitled to spill as
much blood as she pleased to settle
her affairs. The administration vacil-
lated with respect to the embargo on
the export of arms and munitions to
Mexico There was an utter absence
of consistent policy.
For a time we bestowed friendship
on Villa. Ultimately we recognized
Carranza, not on the ground that he
had a constitutional government, but
that it was defaCto government. The
complete failure to secure protection
to American citizens is shown con-
clusively in the note of the Secretary
of State of June 20, 1916.
THE Santa Ysabel massacre, the
raid at Columbus, the bloodshed at
Carrizal are fresh in your minds.
After the Columbus raid we started a
punitive expedition We sent thin
line of troops hundreds of miles into
Mexico. between two lines of railway,
neither of which we were allowed to
use, and which we did not feel at lib
erty to seize. We were refused per-
mission to enter the towns. Though
thus restricted, the enterprise was
still regarded by the Mexicans as a
menace. Our troops faced hostile
forces and it is not remarkable that
our men fell at Carrizal What other
result could be expected. We are vir-
tually ordered to withdraw, and with
out accomplishing our purpose we
have been withdrawing and we are
now endeavoring to safeguard our own
territory. The entire national guard
has been ordered out, and many thous-
ands of our citizens have been taken
from their peaceful employments, and
hurried to the Mexican borders. The
administration was to seize and punish
Villa for his outrage on our SOIL 1t
has not punished anyone; we went in
only to retire, and future movements
are apparently to be determined by
Joint commission.
"The nation has no policy of agrees
sion toward Mexico. We have no de-
sire for any part of her territory. We
wish her to have peace, stability and
prosperity. We should be ready to aid
her in binding up her wounds, in re-
lieying her from starvation and dis
tress, and in giving her in every prac-
ticable way the benefits of our disin-
terested friendship. The conduct of
this administration has created diff
culties which we shall have to sur
mount. We shall have to overcome the
antipathy needlessly created by that
conduct, and to develop genuine re-
spect and confidence. We shall have
to adopt new policy, policy of firm
ness and consistency through which
we alone can promote an enduring
friendship. We demand from Mexico
the protection of the lives and the
property of our citizens and the Sc
curity of our border from depreda-
tons. Much will be gained if Mexico
is convinced that we contemplate no
meddlesOme interference with what
does not concern rs, but that we pro-
pose TO insist in a firm and candid
manner upon the performance of in
ternational obligations To a stable
government appropriately discharging
its international duties, we should give
ungrudging support. A short period
of firm, consistent and friendly deal
ing will accomplish more than many
years of yacillation."
Discussing the European war and
the maintenance of American rights,
Mr.. Hughes declared that national
security demands that there shall be
no paltering with American rights.
1--WE have had a clear and definite
mission as a great neutral nation. II
was for us to maintain the integrity
OF international law to vindicate our
rights as neutrals, to protect the lives
Of our citizens, their property and
trade from wrongful acts. AT least
we were entitled to the safeguarding
of American rights, but this has no