The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-03-16

F ton & but veneer thinly covering tb
savage nature Of man. How can thi
nation. which loves peace and intend
Justice. avoid the curse OF militarisn
and at ,he same time preserve It's IN
/ dependence. defend SIS territory. pro
tect the lives and liberty and proper
~ OF It's citizensl How can we pre-
vent the same principles OF action, th'
same policies OF conduct. the SAM
forces Of military power which are ex
hibited In Europe from laying holt
upon the vast territory and practically
undefended wealth OF the new world
Have we still national ideals? VIII
anybody live for themi Would any
body die for thcmi OR are we all FOL
ease aud comfort and wealth at any
pricef Confronted by such questions
as these and the practical situations
which give rise TO them, Is the coun
try satisfied 10 trust itself again IN the
hands of the Democratic party;
lmpotont lntefercnee In Mexico.
The United states bad rights and
duties IN Mexicu. More than 10000 OF
our citizens had sought their fortunes
and made their homes there 4 thou.
sand millions Of American capital had
been invested in that productive coun-
try. But revolution had come. and
factlonal warfare was rife. Americans
had been murdered, American proper
~ had been wantonly destroyed, the
lives and property OF all Americans In
Mexico were IN danger That was the
situation when Mr.. Wilson became
president IN March. 1913 His duty
then was plain. II was, first. TO use
his powers as president to secure pro-
lection for the lives and property Of
Americans I'm Mexico and to require
that rules OF law and stipulations OF
treaties should be observed by Mexico
toward the United States and its citi-
zens. His duty was, second, as the
head Of foreign power to respect the
independence Of Mexico, to refrain
from all Interference with her internal
affairs from all attempt at domina-
tion except as he was justified by the
law Of nations for the protection Of
American rights. The president of the
United States failed TO observe either
Of those duties. He deliberately aban-
doncd them both and followed an en-
tircly diGcrcnt and inconsistent pur-
pose. lie intcrycncd in Mexico to aid
one faction IN civil strife against an.
other. He undertook TO pull down
Huerta and set Carranza up In his
place. Arms and munitions of war
were freely furnished TO the northern
forces and withheld from Huerta
Finally the president sent our army
and navy to Invade Mexico and cap
ture its great seaport. Vera Cruz, and
hold it and throttle Mexican commerce
until Huerta fell.
Americans Outraged In Mexico.
The government of the United States
in Mexico to control the in
ternal affairs Of that independent eoun-
try and to enforce the will OF the
American president In those affairs by
threat, by economic pressure and by
force OF arms Upon what claim or
right did this Intervention proceedf
Not to secure respect for American
rights. not to protect the lives or prop
erty of our citizens. not to assert the
laws of nations. not to compel oEserv-
anee OF the law of humanity. On the
contrary. Huerta's was the only power
In Mexico to which appeal could be
made for protection OF life or property.
That was the only power which, IN
fact. did protect either American or
European or Mexican. 1t was only
within the territory where Huerta
.uled that comparative peace and or
Ter prevailed. The territory over
which the armed power OF CarranZa
md villa and their associates extended
was the theater OF the most appalling |
.rimes Bands OF robbers royed the |
,ountry with unbridled license. Amer.
cans and McIicans alike were at their
mercy. and American men were mur-
Tered and American women were out.
aged with impunity. Thousands were
cduced to poverty by the wanton de
trnction of the Industries through
which they lived. Yet the government
i the United States ignored. con
Ioned, the murder OF American men
nd the rape OF American women and
of American property and
insult to American officers and deiile-
nent OF the American flag and Joined
IseIf 10 the men who were guilty Of
u these things 10 pull down the pow
r OF Huerta. Why1 The president
imself has told us. II was because
e adjudged Huerta 10 be usurper,
ecause he deemed that the common
eople Of Mexico ought to have great.
r participation IN government and
hare in the land, aud he believed that
arranza and villa would give them
lcse things. We must all sympathize
18th these sentiments. but there is
othing more dangerous than mis-
laced sentiment
When our army landed at Vera Cruz
arranza himself. who was 20 lie the
iief beneficiary Of the act. publicly
rotested against IT, So strong was
le resentment thut he could not have
ept his followers otherwise. When