New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-05
"MEXICO A"
What War Would and Would Not Ae-
compIish.
In tho Edltnr Of Tho Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Granting your editorial Of to-day TO
be more satisfactory than many lately as
summing up Of the Mexican situation to date
/ would nevertheless stop at your regretiul
comment that most Americans do not be-
icve in the inevitability of the troubles IN
Mexico developing into war
II has never occurred to the press appar-
emily thus far to actually cXpound to the
public why il considers war inevitable at
this stage of development in human intelll-
gcnce and facilities for procuring cordial m
tent between peoples. IL has further never
occurred to il at the present Juncture IN our
midst 10 cxpound to us just what war Will do,
if the situation is precipitated into That by
the forces hard at work to do II what 1t VIII
do toward the reconstruction OF Mexico, IN
what way its gentle methods will save her
present half starred and terrOrlzed popula-
ton from their condition, and from the dis
organization Of their ofiicialdom which
causes IT, II it is necessary to 80 through
Mexico with n sword and NOV down a num-
Der of her people first in order TO produce
smiling fields and happy homes there, would
you not tell your trusting readers just OK
actly how this oldfashioncd method now
that we know. better ones will accomplish
this beneyolence? Anayze it, please; tell Is
carefully. The CONGRATULATIONS Of the press
about the necessity of war and the ridiculous
cowardice of anything sane and reasonable
are too sweeping; We are either too stupid TO
be able to see il without explanation Of those
things the press sees. or else We have such
collection Of good, logical reasons ourselves to
the contrary that we must have something
better than fiat assertions without supporting
reasons to be assured that the press is en-
trely sure Of what it is talking about.
A column setting forth exactly what war
will accomplish for in Mexico, and why it
will accomplish it better than the kind of
methods Americans would be supposed to up
hold when dealing with a weaker distracted
and struggling people such column would
really set the matter right At least we
should know what you meant. and how honest
you were. even if we did not all of us agree
with you. II has not seemed to occur to tho
press thus far that outside the circle il is
definitely most endeavorng to please there is
very wide public causing great and grow
ing rumbling in the air. This public wants
10 know; and some day without doubt 10 will
be discovered by those who perhaps are not
treating 1t squarely that il not only ntcnds
to know. but has some extended power equal
TO. If not superior to, that OF the immediate
ring Of those whose interests the press of our
city for the most part and aadly. too, Of our
very widely has most at heart
When one citizen writes thus TO you be sure
many arc thinking like things In so grave
and terrible a crisis. considerin: all it may
mean, how is 1t possible the press dares no,
to its tremendous responsibility to true
American principles and TO the best good OF
the public not the interests Of the few?
ANNE THROOP CRAIG. /
New York July g. 1916.