Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1916-03-24

no little wot II the cla Inning Ia NlcNico
us ours And that IL why We have
failed In Mexico.
Policy Of "Watehful Waiting"
/ Incredible as 1t seems. llucrta had
been turned out Toy the assistance Of
the American government without any
guarantees from the men who were to
he set up In his place. and so the muir
lering and burning aud ravishing have
gone on to this day After lIucrta
had fallen and the Vera Cruz cNpcdi
ton had been withdrawn President
Wilson announced that no one was
entitled to interfere In the affairs of
Mexico; that she was entitled tu settle
them herself. He diSclaims all rc.
sponsibility for what happens IN Mex
leo and contents himself with n pol.
icy OF .watchful waiting. And for the
death and outrage. the suffering aud
ruin of our own brethren. the hatred
| and contempt for our country and the
| diShonor of our name In that land the
administration Mt Washington shares
responsibility with the inhuman brutCs
| with whom it made common cause
When We turn to the administru
tons conduct of foreign affairs Incl
/ dent 10 the great war ia Europe we
| cannot fail to perceive that there Is
/ much dissatisfaction among Ameri.
| cans Dissatisfaction Is not in itself
ground for condemnation The stu
[ alton created by the war has been diff
/ cult and trying. Much of the CORE.
Spondeuce of the state department
especially since Mr.. Lansing took
/ charge, has been characterized by nc.
| curatc learning and skillful statement
/ Of specific American rights.
Three Errors In European Policy.
. \ study OF the administration pol
/ icy toward Europe since July. 1914.
reveals three fundamental errors: First
the lack Of foresight to make timely
provision for backing up American iii
I plomacy by actual or assured military
and naval force: second, the forfcl
turc Of the worlds respect for our as
sertion of rights 10y pursuing the policy
/ of making threats and failing To make
/ them good; third. loss of the moral
forces of the civilized world through
failure to truly interpret to the world
the spirit of the American democracy
in its attitude toward the terrible
events which accompanied the early
stages of the war.
First. rs to power:
When the war in Europe began. free
ucaceahlc little Switzerland instantly
modified upon her frontier a great
army Of trained citizen soldiers Stur
dy little Holland did the same. and
both have kept their territory and their
independence inviolatc
Great. peaccable America was farther
removed from the conflict. but her
trade and her citizens Travelled on Cy
cry sea. Ordinary knowledge of En-
ropean affairs made it plain that the
war was begun not by accident. bur
with purpose which would not soon br
relinquished Ordinary knowledge of
military events made it plain frum the
moment when the tide of German iuya
sion turned from the battle Of III,
Marnc that the conflict was ,c.tGin e.
be long and desperate. Ordinary 'rowl
edge of histOry-of our oW. story
during the Napoleonic wars made IL
plain that in that conflict neutral right,
would he worthless unless puwcrrplI'
maintained
The Democratic Government Wa
ingtpHr Kid not see il. other, ..r 10
ana their opinions fouul O. Mr.
- 1,,,, q Z.
Mr.. Stimson urged it, Mr. Roosevelt
urged it, but their argumcu, and ar
cency were ascribed ter political mo-
tives, and the president described then
with snccr rs nervous ana excited
Wilson Has Shifted Ground
But the warning voices would not be
stilled. The opinion that we ought no
longer TO remain dcfenSelcSS hccamC
public opinion Its expression grew
more general and insistcnt and inlll,
ing, has shifted his ground. has revcrS
ed his position and asks the country &
prepare against war. God grant that
he be not too late. But the Democrat
ic party has not shifted its ground \
large part of its members in congress,
are endeavOring now to sidetrack the
movement for national preparedness
TO muddle it by amendment and turn
it into channels which will produce the
least possible result I'm the increase Of
national power of dcfC,sc What
sense Of effectiveness in this cd 81 can
we gather from the presence OF lose
plus Daniels at the most critical post
of all-the head of the navy depart
ment-when we see that where
preparation has been possible 1t has
not been made when We see that con
structiOn Of warships already author
lied has not been pressed and in some
cases after long delay has not even
been begun?
II an increase Of our country's power
10 defend itself against aggression is
authorized by the present congress II
must be largely through Republican
all 10 .N,.r al