The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-08-04

erta we left Mexico to the ravages Of
revolution. shall not attempt to
uarrate the sickening story of 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.
Recognition Of carranza.
For a time we bestowed friendship
on Villa. Ultimately we recognized
Carranza, not on the ground that he
had constitutional government, but
that it was de facto government,
The complete failure to secure pro
lection to American citizens is shown
conclusively in the note of the sec
retary of state of June 20, 1916.
"The Santa YZabel massacre, the
Carrizal are fresh in your minds.
After the Columbus raid we started
punitive expedition. We sent a
thin line of troops hundreds Of miles
into Mexico, between two lines of rail
way. neither Of which we We're allow
ed to use ard which we did not feel
at liberty to seize. We were refused
permission to enter the towns. Though
thus restricted the enterprise was still
regarded by the MeXicans as a men
ace. Our troops faced hostile forces
and it is not remarkable that our men
fell at Carrizal What other result
could be eXpected?.
1--WE were virtually ordered to with
draw and without accomplishing our
purpose we have been withdrawing
and we are now endeavoring to safe.
guard our own territory. The entire
national guard has been ordered out
and many thousands of our citizens
have been taken from their peaceful
employment and hurried to the Mexi-
can borders The administration was
to seize and punish Villa for his out
rage on our soil. 1t has not punished
any one; we went in only to retire and
future movements are apparently to
be determined by joint commission"
Touches on European War.
Discussing the European war and
the maintenance of American rights.
Mr.. Hughes declared that national
security demands that there shall be
no faltering with American rights
Continuing he said:
"We countenance no covert policies,
no intrigues, no secret schemes. We
are unreservedly. devotedly, whole
heartedly for the United States. That
is the rallying point for all Amer
cans. That is my position. | stand
for the unflinching maintenance OF
all American rights on land and sea.
eve have had clear and definite
as great neutral nation. 1t
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 secured. We have ha5
brave words in a series of notes, but
despite our protests the lives of Amer
leans have been DESTROYED. Wha'
Goes it avail to use some of the
strongest words known to diplomacy
if ambassadors can receive the i'm
preston that the words are not to
be taken seriously.
Words Alone Do Not Court.
at is not words, but the strengths
end resolution behind the words that
count Had this government by the
use of both informal and formal diplo
matte opportunities left no doubt that
when we said 'strict accountability"
we meant precisely what we said an'
that we should unhesta tingly vindi.
cate that position. l am confident there
would have been no destruction OF
American lives by the sinking of the
Lusitania Moreover a firm American
policy would have been strongly sup
ported by our people and the opDor-
,unities of the development of bitter
feeling would have been vastly re-
duced.
''It is great mistake to say that
in protecting American
rights would have led to war. Rather,
in that course lay the best assurance
of peace. Weakness and indecision
in the maintenance of known rights
are always sources of grave danger
They forfeit respect and invite seri.
ous wrongs, which in turn create an
uncomfortable popular resentment
That is not the path Of national Sc.
curity.
Weakness Invites War.
"Not only have we a host Of re-.
pourees short Of war by which to en-.
force our just demands. but We shall
never promote our peace BY being
stronger in words than in deeds. We
should not have found 1t dtmcult to
maintain peace. but We should have