The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-08-10
HUGHES ON MEXICO.


the United States under the Wilson
administration cannot conceal the es
sential weakness of his criticism. He
reflects with whitening sarcasm on al
legged debasement of the diplomatic
service at the behest of merely partl
san interests. He ventures on
single example: the dreadful fac
that the administration did not re
tain Mr.. Herrick at Paris.
He does not allege that American
interests in France suffered in an as
certainable way through the reslgna
ton of Mr. Herrick-who, by the
way, was dignified and capable
representative in trying time. He
does not point out any question
which has arisen between the United
States and France which has beer
unwisely and incapably handled. III
fact, there has been no such question
He rests his case on the sole fac1
that Mr.. Herrick left Paris.
Mr.. Hughes treatment Of the
Mexican question is an elaborate bl'
of. special pleading. He handles the
subject, not like a judge, but like 8
skillful stage manager. The lights
are focused brightly here-and turn
ed down discreetly there, as suits the
purpose of the partisan Snowman.
Mr.. Hughes whole argument
such it may be called-upon Mexico
weakens and breaks down through
his failure to recognize one capital
underlying fact-the nature and eX-
tent of the responsibility of the Unit
ed States for Mexico. What that re-
sponsibility is may be gathered from
a single fact: that Mexico, with more
than 5000 miles of coast on two
oceans, has no navy and has never
had one. Five gun boats, two arm
ed transports" complete the cata-
logue of her fleet. What does TINS
mean? 1t means Mexico's security
has been, since the days OF President
Monroe, guaranteed by the United
States. There is no situation parai-
lei to this anywhere in the world,
where an independent power with
a coast line measured by thousands
of miles depends wholly on another
power for its defense.
Mr.. Hughes criticism of the VIII
son policy with respect-for example
to Huerta is bottomed on the nc
ton that Mexico was as independent
of the United States as is Brazil, or
Argentina. In the light OF actual
Mexican dependence on us, and on us
alone, for the very essentials winch
preserve sovereignty, the arralgn-
ment of President Wilson's Inter
vention' becomes childish.
Mr.. Hughes walks with light and
catlike tread around the very dlt1l-
cult question of the recognition OF
Huerta. 1t would require the pow
ers of seventh son OF a seventh son
to discern what he really THINKS
about it, for his words give no hlnt'
A prettier bit of rhetorical change
able silk we have not seen for many
a day. The stern morallst may resi-
on his observation that Mr.. hughes
does not palliate crime-lt crime
we're committed! (The exclamation
noint is ours.) The Blut und Elsen
man of the world will not fail to
note the approving mention @of the
fact that certain European powers
did recognize Huerta. Mr.. Hughes
fronts south by north. No matter
which side of the question you ap-
nroach. YOU will find him coming 10
meet you.
The specific criticisms of the Next
can policy OF the ADMINISTRATOR ale
NOT weighty. We are informed that
the embargo was sometimes lald on
arms and sometimes removed. Yer
tainlv. When you are playing chess
sometimes you move your castle lo!-
ward and sometimes you move !.
hack. What of it? We are informed
that the Vera Cruz affair was badly
handled. but are not informed what
Nv Hughes would have advised, al
ter a certain American naval onlcef
had taken a certain stand 70 ueslh
with. We are told that MI. john
Lind was unfortunately selected as d
special representative. ms comes
with good grace from the poEtlcal
legatee of the administrator ina.
sent Henry Lane Wilson to- Mexico.
Mr.. Hughes pour out his contempt
upon the present administrator IN
view OF the killing of American cltl-
zens in Mexico One would infer
from his observations that after the
awful laundering OF the Taft admin
istration's dollar diplomacy IN
Mexico there was some twist OF the
diplomatic wrist which might have
nut all right and made American in
terests safe in a country which was
wrecked and ruined before Woodrow
Wilson entered the White House.
Here again we have the shifty polltl-
cal Snowman with his "dissolvlng Ell
fects. And as a GROWING stroke the
administration is held responsible for
a certain position with respect to
Villa which it never took because
Mr. Hughes feels sure it would have
taken it had certain things happened
which never did and never will!
WIZ such stuff as this be taken
seriously by the American public
even the most partisan portion OF it?
st. Louis Republic.