The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-10-27

are uOl anu ut ShOuiu nave ltl ~
be known in the beginning that they
would be given the opportunity
when American life. property and vir-
tue of our women were at stake. But
Wilson was busy keeping us out Of
war.
Carranza. who was the most un-
friendly of them all, to America, was
recognized as the man able to cope
with the situation. The Columbus
massacre and Carrizal ambush came
under the regime of the recognized
provisional President. Catch villa
and avenge this outrage shouted the
American public when they heard
Of the Columbus attack. Wilson
moved the eager troops into Mexico
but an American President was told
to move his troops in but one direc-
ton by Carranza and the American
President obeyed. Villa is still at
large and we are satisfied with the
lives of a few of his lowliest follow
ers. We couldn't go and capture
the bandit for then Wilson couldn't
say that he has kept us out of war.
Our diplomatic blunders have
gone far to make possible the plea
that Wilson has kept us out of war.
Had the President let the world know
in the beginning that he would do
what he said he would do many
times strained relations would have
been less strained because there
would have been a greater regard
for our rights and a greater respect
for our views. Men are only boys
grown tall: nations are but men in
corporated. When an individual lets
it be known that violation of certain
of his principles means a fight men
are going TO have more regard for
those principles and the same is true
with nations. We have been forced
to back down time and again because
of our weak policy in the beginning.
In a controversy, when one permits
the other fellow to have his desires
and the other fellow is therefore sat
isfed and doesn't fight does the first
party deserve so much credit for sac
rifcing his principles and keeping
himself out of war?
The President has said that he is
too proud to fight. Europe has heard
and Europe has consequently acted
about as she pleases. England has
taken upon herself the privilege Of
opening our mails between this and
other neutral G&ntries. They seize
our ships and refuse to permit us to
ship the farmers tobacco to many
neutral countries. We are like the
sissy school boy who only "bawls"
when his marbles are taken from
him. In the past we have asserted
our rights and our demands have
been complied with without resorting
to war. When Pitney told France,
millions for defense but not one
cent for tribute" there was no war.
There would have been war had
France not complied and France
knew it.
But the biggest fake of the whole
business is, we are at war and have
been several times during the pres
ent administration. Webster gives
the following definitions for war:
ITO make war; to invade or attack
a state or nation with force or arms;
20 carry on hostilities, to he in
state of contest by violence" Under
each of the above definitions we have
been at war with Mexico. We were
at war with Mexico when we invaded
that country upon two occasions un-
der the Wilson administration. We
were at war when we attacked and
captured Vera Cruz. We were at
war when we engaged the Mexican
troops at Carrizal. We have men on
Mexican soil right now and we have
accomplished nothing.
The thinking man should only re-
view the situation when impressed
with the plea that Wilson has kept
us out of war, and if war with a coun-
try across the water comes within
the next four years we must have
President who is not too proud TO
fight.