The Washington times., 1916-06-18

CaBO. ~ Lntlu OF approval ran
through the American public when
II read the Republican Mexican
plank recoupting The faults and fol-
lies of Mr.. Wilson in dealing with
his problem, relating the horrors and
crimes which had befallen both
Americans and natives in Mexico,
because Of his weakness and vacilla-
ton, and ending with these words:
We denounce the indefensible
this Administration In the internal
AFFAIRS OF Mexico. and refer with
shame to Its failure to discharge the
duty OF this country az next friend
to Mexico. It's duty TO other powers
friend. and its duty to our citizens
In Mexico. In permitting the continu-
ance OF such conditions, hrst by fall
ure to act promptly and firmly. and,
the conti IN 1 q such conditions
through recognition Of one OF the
RACES. ~
leo. We promise to our citizens on
and near our border and to those In
Mexico, wherever they may be
found. adequate and absolute pro-
lection In their lives. liberty. and
property.
Upon the heels of that arraign-
ment came Mr.. Hughes unanswer-
able indictment Of Mr.. Wilson's
policy, as follows:
I neither impugn motives nor un-
most regrettably true that in our
foreign relations we have suffered
intellectually from the weak and
facilitating course which has been
taken with regard to Mexico-a
course iamentabiy wrong with re-
gard to both our rights and our
duties.
We interfered without consistency
and, while seeking to dictate when
failed to appreciate and discharge
our plain duty to our own citizens.
The way in which the nation re-
ceived those words Of Mr.. Hughes on
top Of the Republican convention
Mexican plank could leave no doubt
in the mind Of Mr.. Wilson, no doubt
in the minds Of his most hopeful
political managers, no doubt In the
minds Of his most credulous ad-
mirers, that among the American
people the Presidents Mexican pol
icy, from first to last, was utterly
and finally damned.
And SO Mr.. Wilson, who wrote
with his own hand, In the White
House, virtually every word Of the
Democratic platform, tried to do
something with a Mexican plank
which possibly might find him re-
demption at the polls in some small
part for his course with Huerta,
with Villa, with Carranza, and with
all the military bravoes and brig
ands who, despising the policy of
Mr.. Wilson, have defied and resisted
and attacked and outraged the au-
thority and power Of the Govern
ment of the United States.
Mr.. Wilson had to do something
in his platform, and, with that sipgu-
lar disregard of facts as against
fancies, Of record as against rhetoric,
of deeds as against words which he
always shows In the most momentous
situations, he wrote into his platform
declarations which were stronger
and more threatening than anything
he had ever done to completion or
said to good purpose in dealing with
the actual Mexican problem itself.
Wilson never had done and he
never would do big deeds in Mexico.
Wilson never had talked and he
never would talk big words to the
Mexicans.
But, for electioneering purposes in
the United States, Wilson cut loose
with promises and threats which
might have seemed to this country
to mean something, if everybody did
not know, to his deep chagrin and
bitter modification, that back Of this
convention loud talk was that
wretched record Of things supinely
left undone or blunderingly done in
the wrong way.
Wilson's Mexican plank didn't fool
and couldn't fool anybody in this
country when, virtually apologizing
for the sins of omission and commits
sion in the past, it pretends to
promise better and stronger things.
The Mexicans slapped back at Mr..
Wilson's st. Louis plank as quick as
fash and with the boldest and
broadcast insult which they ever had
given him and his policy.
The Mexicans instantly sent word
to Mr.. Wilson-sent it through his
military and State Department Off.
Gals on and near the Mexican border
that if henceforth the American
troops moved hand or foot in any
direction except toward home the
Mexican nation would fight US.
In all the history Of the United
States, when we were great and pow
FL