News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-11-01
MEXICO'S SUPREME NEEDS
AND OUR SUPREME DUTY

MEAlCOS SUPKEME NEEDS
AND OUR SUPREME DUTY
The following from the San Antoni,
(Texas) Express, leading Democratic
paper, clearly sets forth the situation as
regards the Mexican troubles:
The time has come for action by this
country in the relief of Mexico. A "dead
lock- is ported in the Mexican Ameri
can joint commission. From the view.
point of the American members. the re.
public would soon know the blessings OF
rehabilitation If Mexico would bind her.
self to the distribution of land among the
poems. the establishment of a currency
and banking system backed by sinking
fund set aside from the country's I'M
mortgaged revenues, and guarantee full
fillment of the provisional governments
already promised social, political and f.
nancial reforms.
Evidently Mexico is not yet ready, al d
while the conferees are debating at At
lantic City the situation in Mexico is
rapidly assuming phase more desperate
than was the border trouble at any prior
time of the problem.
Thee have been six years of revolu-
ton, of battles, pillage, death and ruin
in the republic below the Rio Grande.
Famine, no stranger to the unhappy land,
is growing larger, more menacing; the
appalling chronicle of disease and starva-
ton in Cuba under Weyler's reign is be-
ing retold; its scarcely believable chap
tiers are being re-enacted with four-fold
horror. 1t is desperate situation, call
ing for immediate relief, with no half
way measures.
The Express has stood for consttu-
tional government for Mexico, for the
protection of that country and its nation
ais, by the United States in the relation
ship of Big Brother, whose patience
and forbearance and helping hand would
soon bring order out of chaos. But is it
the part of wisdom for Big Brother to
stand idly and speculatively by while the
Little Brother starves and burns with
fever?
The Express now appeals to the people
OF the United States, to the National Adj
ministration. to the members of the con-
ference, to promptly set about the task
of succor-and defense.
In the name of humanity let us agree
on immediate steps for the relief of the
Mexican people from disease and starva-
ton; let us devise means to protect the
United States from the advancing danger
that, all reports agree will soon be spread
ing across the border disease and disas-
ter, more cruel than revolution, more
terrible than any calamity our vast bor-
der country has ever known.
Every day brings advices of roaming
soldiery and bandits, not searching ont
each other for battle, but seeking treas
ure, money, food, susJenance to prolong
their pernicious activity. Sanitation is
word that has been forgotten; cleanli-
ness in ruins of towns and cities il i'm
possible and the march of disease and
death goes on. The situation is made
more appalling by the almost universal
shortage of food and the deaths by tbou-
sands from starvation.
1t is no longer proposition of inter
vention being regarded as warlike: it is
no longer matter of quibbling niceties.
1t is now question of food and medi-
cine-of the saving of stricken people
from themselves and conditions that an
parently the provisional government of |
Mexico cannot Danish. Humanity sees
it as duty, this extension of the belpinp
hand, backed by all the resources of this
itch and contented and prosperity-over-
flowing country.
1t isn't politics--politics is a mean and |
unworthy thing in the face of Christian |
duty. Men in office, and what thew in
terpose 10 selfish or mistaken objection
should be cast aside-it is a nation. a
people, race that is in agonyi Isap pre-
cedent needed? There are Cuba. Rel.
giuml Humanity has divine rights and
a people is invoking the name of Hu-
manityl
And Humanity's call is greater than
war; 1t is greater than stubborn pride. or
In 1ivldual interest, or ambition.
1t bids this big Nation of ours to nro-
tect the women and children. the widows
the orphans, the aged and the feeble-it
bids us to sustain a people with the
necessities of life to save life by food and
medicine, so that the righteous cause of /
a nation struggling to Independence ana i
self-respect and lasting peace may be
nurtured and made to come to Dass