The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1916-04-06

compel salute to the American flag.
Three hundred McXiCans were report
cd killed; seventeen United States Ina
rincs were killed and many were
wounded. Al that very time Mr.. Bry-
an, with the presidents approval. was
signing treaties with half the world
agreeing that II any controversy should
arise 1t should he submitted TO joint
commission ana no action should he
taken until after Il full year had clapS-
ed. This controversy, slight as it was,
arose on the 9th Of April and on the
Dist of the same month Vera Cruz
was taken. With the occupation of
Vera Cruz the moral power of the
| United States in Mexico ended We
were then and We are now hated for
what we did to Mexico, and We were
then and we are now dcSpiScd for our
feeble and irrcsOlutC failure to protect
the lives and rights Of our citizens. No
flag is so dishonored and no citizenship
so little worth the claiming in Mexico
as ours. Aud that is why We have
failed in M,IicO,
Policy of "WatchfuI Waiting"
Incredible as 1t seems, Iucrta had
been turned out by the assistance Of
the American government without any
guarantees from the men who were to
I'm cpt I'm I'm biS pln.o npJ 90 tbn mum
dcring and burning and raviShing have
gone on to this day. After lIucrta
had fallen and the Vera Cruz cxpedi.
ton had been withdrawn President
Wilson announced that no one was
entitled to interfere in the affairs Of
Mexico; that she was entitled to settle
them herself. He diSclams all re-
sponSibility for what happens in Mex.
leo and contents himself with n pol
ley of watchful waiting. And for the
death and outrage, the suffering and
ruin of our own brethren, the hatred
aud contempt for our country aud the
diShonor Of our name In that land the
administration at Washington shares
responsibility with the inhuman bruteS
with whom 1t made common cause.
When we turn to the adminiStra-
TONS conduct Of foreign affairs incl
dent TO the great war IN Europe we
cannot fail TO perceive that there Is
much dissatisfaction among Amcri.
cans. Dissatisfaction is not In itself
ground for condemnation. The stu.
alton created by the war has been diff
cult and trying Much Of the CORE
spondcnce of the state department.
especially since Mr.. Lansing took
charge, has been characterized by nc.
curate learning and skillful statement
Of specific American rights.
Three Errors In European Policy.
a study of the administration pol
icy toward Europe since July, 1914
reveals three fundamental errors: First
the lack Of foresight to make timely
provision for backing up American Ill.
plomacy 10y aCtnal or assured military
and naval force; second, the forfcl-
ture Of the worlds respect for our as.
| scrtiOn Of rights by pursuing the policy
of making threats and failing to make
them good; third, loss of the moral
forces Of the civilized world through
failure to truly interpret tu the world
| the spirit Uf the American democracy
| in its attitude toward the terrible
events which accompanied the early
stages Of the war.
First. as tn power:
When the war in Europe began. free
| pcaCcahlr little Switzerland instantly
mohili2cd upon her frontier great
army Of trained citizen soldiers. Stur
dy little Holland did the same, and
both have kept their territory and lhcil
Independence inviolnte.
Great, pcaCcable America was farther
removed from the conflict, but hcl
trade and her citizens Travelled on ev
! cry sea. Ordinary knowledge Of Eu
| ropcan affairs made it plain that the
war was begun not by accident, but
with purpose which would not soon bt
relinQuishcd. Ordinary knowledge Of
military events made 1t plain from the
moment when the tide Of German inva
sion turned from the battle Of the
Marne that the conflict was certain t.
be long aud desperate. Ordinary knowl
edge Of histOry-of our own history
during the NapolcOmic wars-made II
plain that In that conflict neutral rights
would be worthless unless powerfully
maintained.
The Democratic government at Wash
| ingtOn did not see 1t. Others saw il
and their opinions found voice. Mr.
Gardner urged IT, Mr.. Lodge urged it
Mr.. StimSOn urged 1t, Mr.. Roosevelt
ursed ii, but their argument and ur
gency were ascribed to political mo
tives, and the president described then
with a snccr as nervous and excited
Wilson Has Shifted Ground.
But the warning voices would not bC
stillcd. The opinion that we ought III
longer TO remain defcnseleSs became
public opinion. Its expression grew
more general and insiStcEt. and finally
the president. not leading. but follow
Ing, has shifted his ground. has revcrs
ed his position and asks the country tC
prepare against war. God grant thai
he he not too late. But the Democrat
ic party has not shifted its ground. \
large part OF its members in congress
are endcavoring now to sidetrack th,
movement for national preparedness