South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-01

4 1913 John Lind was despatched 90 the
/ City 0f Mexico as the presidents per
/ s1nal spokesman AID representative 70
/ fhe uureca -nize1 Hucrta iu order 90 de-
I uaud that the latter eliminate himself
N was au unjustifiable mission. most Of
I fensive o. a sensitive people John Lind
fingered irrlntngly The administration
continued 90 direct its efforts at the de
struction of the only government Mexico
+ I'D.
"In the spring Of 1919. occurred the
capture " Vera Cruz Men from one Of
our ships Tad been arrested az Tampico
and had been discharged with am apol-
Cgy. But OIr admiral demanded "a sa-
lutte. which was refused Thereupon the
/ president went 20 congress asking am
th0rity 90 use the armed forces OF the
United States. without waiting for the
passage OF the resolution, Vera Cruz was
seized. 10 appeared tnst "a shipload or
ammunition for Huerta wgs about TO
opposition TO this invasion and "A bat
tie occurred I'm which nineteen Americans
and over hundred MeXicans were killed.
This, c. course, was war our dead sol
diers were praised for dying like heroes
in war ~ service. Later we retired
from Vera Cruz. giving mp this noble
warfare. We had not obtained the salute
which was demanded
Americans Unprotected
Meanwhile, the administration utterly
ifcied 80 perform its obvious duty To So
lcrre protection for the lives and property
~ our citizens 10 is most unworthy 10
slur those who have investments ia Mex
IicO in order 10 escape a condemnation for
the nom performance Of this duty. Therv
can be no escape. for we have no debate.
u 81
istence of this duty ON the part OF our
government The bitter hatred aroused
by the course Of the administration mul-
tiplied outrages while our failure % af-
ford protection 90 our citizens evoked the
scOrn and contempt Of MeXicans.
In the midst Of the greatest danger 10
the hundreds OF Americans c0ngregated
at Tampico our ships which We're In the
harbOr were withdrawn and our citizens
were saved only by the Intervention of
German officers and were taken away by
2 british and German ships The official
excuse Of the secretary of the navy is an
extraordinary commentary. our ships,
IL seems had been ordered % Vera Cruz
bUt. as IL appeared that they were not
needed. the order was rescinded
b Left to Ravages.
Destroying the government Of Huerta
, ton l. shall not attempt TO narrate the
. sickening story Of the barbarities COM
mitted. of the carnival Of murder ana
lust We were then told that Mexico was
entitled 20 spill as much blood as she
pleased 10 settle her affairs. The admin
= istration vacillated with respect TO the
. embargo on the export Of arms and mu-
/ nitions 10 Mexico.
P For three years the Mexican repub-
: lie has been torn with civil strife. tls,
lives Of Americans and other aliens have
been sacrificed vast properties developed
by American capital and enterprise. hav,
: been destroyed or rendered non-prOducr
i've; bandits have been permitted 20 roam
at viii through the territory contiguous
10 the United states. and TO seize withOu
D Punishment or without effective attemp
- AZ punishment. the property Of Ameri
cans. while the lives OF citizens Of th'
, United States who ventured 20 remain in
P Mexican territory or 20 return there {,
. fpIotect their interests have been taken
q iE some cases. barbarouSly taken, an,
b the murderers have neither been appre
Be- hcnded nor brought to Justice
4 IL would be tedious 10 recount instanc
r after instance. outrage after outrage
4 atrocity after atrOcity. 10 illustrate tn
t true nature and extent Of the widespread,
+. conditions Of lawlessness and violenc
q which have prevailed
t. Has No Policy
The nation has no policy Of aggression
s toward Mexico We have uJ desire 70
@ any part Of her territory. We wish he
o o. have peace. stability. and prosperity
{. We should be ready 10 aid her i'm bind
d ing mp her wounds in relieving he
b. from starvation and distress. and in civ
e iue her i'm every practicable WY the ben
Il efitS Of our disinterested friendship. Tn
q conduct of this administration has ere
b. ated difficulties which we shall have {
10 SUrmount We shall have TO overcom
y thc antipathy needlessly created by tina
lie conduct and 80 develop genuine respeC
y and confidence through which alone W
he can promote an enduring friendship
10 EUROPEAN WAR.
III I'm this land of composite population
j. drawing its strength from every rae
.o tie national security demands that thei
81 | shall be Doe no paltering with America
d rights. The greater the danger of
Pr visive Influences, the greater is the n,
le cessity for the implying force of jus
pr strong and patriotic position. We cont,
'r nance no covert policies, no intrigues r
s. secret schemes. We are unreServedl
De- dcvotedly. whole-heartedly, for the Unite
rs States This is the rallying point for "a
s. Americans. That is my position
Ia stand for the uuflinchiug maintenance
re- al American rights on land and sea-
D. We have had q clear and definite mi,
.d sion as a great neutral nation. IL was E,
lt us 20 maintain the integrity of intern:
ticnal law 20 vindicate our rights
nrutrals To protect the lives OF our eli
D. liens. their property and trade fro
a. Wrongful acts. Putting aside any que
~ ton MS TO the highest possibilities
,d moral leadership in the maintenance an
So vlndication of the law Of nations in COZ
IN uection with the European war at leai
ol entitled 10 the Safeguarding Of America
n rights. But this has not been secure
ce We have had brave words iu "A series
s. notes but despite our protests the liv,
Of If Americans have been destroyed. VIII.