The sun., 1916-02-03
THE RECKONING IN MEXICO.
II We Don't Undertake PaciAcation
Europe VIII intervene.

To THE EprroR OF THE SuN--Sir. sefior
Calero's letter published in THE SUN Of
January rs derives special value from
his high character and great attain
ments. lie has served his country faith
fully, and, as ] happen to know. at the
cost to himself OF financial loss and no
small personal danger. so far as re-
member. the only recognition he ever re-
ceived was the rfdicule and vili1cation
heaped on him by the press Of Mexico.
1t is natural that Mr.. Calero as a
Mexican should deprecate armed inva-
| sion. Most right minded Americans
share his views in that respect but
after all. hardly any one who really
knows Mexico. her history and her peo-
pie. and who is not blind to the signs of
the times, can eoubt that forcible In
| tervention OF some kind will como In
the not very distant future.
The very things that Sehor Calero
points out. the coexlstence and partial
| fusion OF two races, neither one quail
ned by tradition or training for self
government. the cynical selfishness Of
the man In whom the Spanish blood pre-
dominates. the dull. apathetic patience
| OF the Indian. broken by flashes Of stu
pid ferocfty; these things have made
| Mexicos history wearisome record Of
revolutions. massacre and executions,
IL II to our own everlasting shame that
our Government should have meddled
blindly. clumsily. almost maliciously In
the anairs OF a distracted neighbor; but
while we have contributed largely to
Mexicos troubles we are no. primarily
| responsible for them. ] firmly believe
that even had a "hands off, policy been
honestly followed. the net result so far
| as Mexico II concerned would have been
etth thato ttuI ~
at least no blam would have attached
| to us. As It is. Mexcans feel very
| natural and human resentment against
| nation which has placed arms In the
| hands OF irresponsible bandits on the
plea that they were fighting for their
political rights. In theory It would have
been quite as JuStfidbe for Great Brit
| ain 70 aid and abet sitting Bulls bands
on the plea that the Sioux had been de-
| pr!ved of their lands by the whites
| which was true. and that the franchise
| had not been granted to them. which
| was also true. And not only do Mcxi-
| cans feel thus, but other Latin Ameri-
| cans as well.
There was one policy which should
| have been followed from the first. and
which II It had not produced peace in
Mexico would at least have left our own
skirts clear. 1t would have been at
|
| ger OF ultimate international complica-
tons would have been far less than IL
the case at present. II from the first II
! had been clearly impressed upon the
| leaders OF every faction that the per
sons and property OF foreigners In Mex
| leo muet he held sacred. and that any
| violation OF either must he severely and
| promptly punished under the penalty Of
| drastic action by the United States. the
/ .f luHa .lV. H. 4
have been saved. and any pretcxt for
! action by foreign Powers would have
| been made impossible. As it is the
! Chinese slain IN Mexico are number red
! by the hundreds. The same is true OF
the Span!ards Other Europeans and
/ az leas; two hundred Americans have
/ been murdered. and the property stolen
or wantonly destroyed runs into the
| hundreds Of millions.
! There is a DAY OF reckoning coming :.
| whatever else certain Snug gentlemen
, In Washington may choose to believe.
/ The European nations, except poor. de-
! crepit old spain. are engaged in a war
which taxes their whole attention. and
they cannot now diver: any portion -,
| their strength FOR sdrh relatively uuim-
| p"r:ant mattc-s as the protection OF
their nationals interests m Mexico. But
the European comic, vii not last al
! WAYS, and when i ends Sc are going To
have AN unplcasant awakening. We
! shall he told by foreign Powers
So far We have respected your Monroe
| Doctrine. though merely as matter ot
| courtesy. In return expected that YOU
| would assume the respousibiiuy % pro-
| tectIng our nationals in Latin America.
| seeing that you have not permitted us 10
| do 50, You have failed 20 give any pro.
| lection whatever You have stood idly
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