The Blackfoot optimist., 1916-07-06
MEXICO.

No matter what the outcome of the
present difficulty may be this country
can show fairly clean hands in its po-
litical relationship with Mexico for the
asst sixty years. One administration
after another has reflected the desire
on the part of the people of the United
States to deal thoughtfully and pa
tiently with every problem that might
country has never tried to impair Mex
lean nationality. We have tried to en-
courage and protect it. We can look
back with good deal of satisfaction
to the aid we gave in the expulsion OF
European ferces from Mexico after our
Civil War. We can point to a long per-
iod of years during which every dispute
was discussed and settled calmly and
amicably. The whole thought of one
administration after another has been
to give Mexico chance, and that has
been the thought of the people of this
country. No sensible Mexican can
doubt that but for the protection of the
United States Mexico would long ago
have ceased to exist as a separate pc
litical body. 1t would have disappeared
in 1866. There has been every incent
i've to greed and ambition to take and
hold that country. Time and time
again deliberate attempts to get us into
war have been thwarted by the good
natured and hopeful belief among ou1
people that some day and somehow
Mexico would work out her own des
tiny in her own way, and that th'
more powerful we became the bette
able we were to let her 60 on withOu
even criticizing her faults.
Undoubtedly this truth is as clear tt
the intelligent Mexican people as it i
to us. The question is whether we ar
dealing at the present moment witt
the intelligent Merican people or deal
ing with the Mexican people at all
/ Are Carranza, Obregon, Villa, Zapat
in any sense any more representativ
of the Mexican people than Jesse jaime
was Of the Missouri farmers who hate
and harbored him for years and we
coined the day when it was no lOnge
necessary to fear him? There are III
doubtedly many thousands Of Mexican
who would welcome honorable relic
from the intimidation they have ha
to endure for the last few years. The
don t want to give up their nationality
They will still cry "Viva Mexico.
But it is imaginable that they woul
like to 60 back to tilling their lane
herding their cattle, keeping thei
shops without the fear that at an
; hour robber band calling itself
cavalry squadron might fall upon then
steal their cash, run off with their cat
tie or carry away their grain. tn
whole north of Mexico has been S
). overrun with these ruffian gangs tn;
industry has stopped completely. II
distress of the poor people is beyon
: words. One group or another of the
), desperadOes has swept across the cou
try until wolf could hardly live
: it. Officers with General Pershing
column report things too terrible to r
r peat about the efforts of women al
II children to obtain food.
If we had humane reason for "g
ing into Cuba,' we have at least
: good reason for going into Mexie
b If we had one selfish reason for goil
0 into Cuba, we have hundred for G
ing into Mexico. 1t is humiliating tn
: a country which is under our protectio
which exists as a political unit becau
of our protection, and for which we a
responsible in the eyes of other COVER
ments, should be the only country
II the world where the life and proper
y, Of an American citizen is not respect
by the so-called authorities. 1t is II
9 bearable that the pretended Cover
Q ment of Carranza should not only pc
nit but cOnnive at the invasion
= American territory and the taking
2 American lives. And, also, it is high
dangerous to the future safety of t
= United States when these matters a
- interviewer with the ambitions and a
70 tagonisms of foreign power.
70 If Mexico will not reform herse
- this country will reform Mexico.-C
- lier 3.