The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-27
Following the Flag and Following
Woodrow wilson.

esteemed neighhor the ORD for IFS
reiterated advice TO THE SUN TO fol
low the flag" We shall find little
difficulty in CO doing. our neighhor
is also good enough TO say that we
need feel m special obligation to fol-
low rho WORTH while following the
flag. This permission To Use our own
judgment with regard 10 Mr.. Will
sons disastrous policy in Mexico
seems unnecessary.
No newspaper less e~ngrossed than
is neighhor ut present In the
beautiful pastime Of picking thanks
from White House bushes could fail
10 perceive the difference between
support Of the Government OF the
United States. even in a crisis brought
about by the plumbers or weaknesses
If past administration. and political
support Of a candidate running for
reelection 10 office after having
wrought the mischief.
Yet here Is the Worif actually talk.
inc about 'sedition." II We under.
stand It's idea of "sedirion" the criml-
nal lapse from patriotic duty consists
of the utterance In print Of such criti-
cism Of the ~deplorable Mexican policy
Of President WILSON rs IL contained,
for instance. in the suhioined remarks
on the Vera Cruz episode:
THE withdrawal OF our forces from
Vera Cruz is spoken of az an eya"ua-
ton. Strictly speaking II 1as Ar aban-
donment."
Assuming tina, there ever was a sum
Gent reason FOR our occupation Of the
Mexican seaport. how can It's reIin-
q%uishment nov ne exria!nNt~"
We entered Vera Cruz. as President
WILSON has said on two memorable &C.
casions-orce IN his address 20 Con
gress. April 90 last. and again IN his
eulosy Of our dead at Vera Cruz in New
York, May IL las,-'to serve mankind
= We can And out the way"
Sometimes questioning and doubling.
the - has approved President WI
soS's Mexican policy a, every step ne
policy was making powerfully FOR peace
Its guarantee OF peace wa
sincerity. It's rax. strorgcs, guarantee
OF peace wes the possession o, Vera
Cruz. After long months ~ 'va'cHfu
waiting we Rave abandoned our SINGER,
ity. and we have abandoned Vera Cruz
without accomplishing one Of our par
poses"
The flag IA. no. been salu,ed, Their,
Is no assurance o. peace. Except FOL
our naval! forces VS. ara IN no position
10 fulfil our engagements with forsisr
Powers. Setting on. TO establish con
s,itutionsl government In Mexico. We arr
leaving Mex.co 70 It's own at
time when It's interna! affairs are NOR
chaotic n a they were when We inter
fered with them.
Have We served the Mex,cans: Hav,
We served o~ur.elves' Have We serve,
m~ankindr'
This vigorous indictment Of the Mex
lean professions and performances "
Mr.. WILSON, this fearless exhibition
Of the i~nsincerity. the ~feehleness. III,
laundering inrapacity of the EXoCu
tive responsible for the chaos result
ing from that policy, Is. we suppose,
good sample of what the World re
CARDS as "sedition." Yet n our neigh
bor's system Of Office mnemonics |
what II ought 70 he IL will not sur
prise the World to he told that th
blank in the text should he filed viii
IT'S own name. and that the foregoln.
"seditlon" IL from It's own editoria
columns Of November 2t. 1914.
II these seditlous things were tru
Of Mr., WILSON'S personal untirncSs I
handle the Mexican situation seven
teen months ago, before the cold cor
sequences Of his ~insincerity. vacil
lntion and Incompetence had grow
like n rolling SNOWFALL to their pres
ont dimensions, nre they less true. I
the WORRIES opinion, now that the M
thor Of the existing crisis IL askin
for four years more In which 10 oy
ercise the fatal qualities which on
neighhor then exhibited in so forclhl
II solutions n fashion?