The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-03-16

forces of military power which are ex-
hibited in Europe from laying hold
upon the vast territory and practically
undefended wealth of the new world?
Have we still national ideals? Will
anybody live for them? Would any
body die for them? Or are we all for
ease and comfort and wealth at any
price? Confronted by such questions
as these and the practical situations
which give rise to them. is the coun-
try satisfied to trust itself again in the
hands Of the Democratic party?
Impotent Interference In Mexico.
The United States had rights and
duties in Mexico. More than 10000 of
our citizens had sought their fortunes
and made their homes there \ thou
sand millions of American capital had
been invested in that productive coun.
try. But revolution had come, and
factional warfare was rife. Americans
had been murdered. American proper
ty 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, 1918. His duty
then was plain. 1t was, first, to use
his powers as president to secure pro
lection for the lives and property of
Americans in Mexico and to require
that rules of law and stipulations of
oh no oh Nv
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-
ton 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. Tie deliberately aban-
doned them both and followed an en-
tirely different and inconsistent pur-
pose He interviewed in Mexico to aid
one faction in civil strife against an
other. He undertook to pull down
place Arms and munitions of war
were freely furnished to the northern
forces and withheld from HUcrta
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 fen.
Americans Outraged In Mexico.
The government of the United States
interviewed in Mexico - control the in
ternal affairs Of that independent coun
try and 10 enforce the viii Of the
American president in those affairs by
threat. by economic pressure and by
force OF arms. Upon what claim Of
right did this Intervention proceed
Not to secure respect for Americas
rights, not to protect the lives or prop.
erty of our citizens. not to assert the
laws of nations. not to compel observ-
ance 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, il
fact. did protect either American or
European or Mexican. 1t was only
within the territory where Huerta
ruled that comparative peace and or
der prevailed The territory over
which the armed power Of Carranza
ana Villa and their associates extended
was the thalter Of the most appalling
crimes. Bands Of robbers roved the
country with unbridled license. Amer,
leans ana Mexi-lns alike were at their
mercy. and American men were mur
dered and American women were out.
ragged with impmity. Thousands were
reduced to poverty by the wantOn de
struction Of the industries through
which they lived. Yet the Governments
of the United States ignored con
doued tie murder of American me"
and the rann of American women and
destruction Of American property and
Insult 10 American officers ana dcuie
megt of the American dg- and joined
Itself 70 the u'a ThU were guilty %;
all these things 90 pun down the pow
himself has told les II was because
he aGJHu@ea Huerta 70 be a uSurper.
because lie deemed that The common
people OF Mexico ought 10 have great
er participation ID government ANA
share in the land, and he believed tha'