The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-11-01

sage from PRESIDENT Taft to the Gov
ernor of Arizona:
1.-THE pressure for general interven-
ton under such conditions it might
not be practicable to resist. It is i'm
possible to forSee or reckon the con-
sequences of such a course and we
must use the greatest self-restraint
ITO avoid it. I cannot, therefore,
order the troops at Douglas to cross
the border, but I must ask you and
the local authorities, in case the same
danger recurs, to direct the people of
Douglas to place themselves where
avoid casualty
This was not Woodrow Wilson, but
his predecessor, William H. Taft, on
April IS, 1911. More than that,
President Taft was not at the time
concerned with the question of pro-
tecting the lives of American citizens
IN MEXICO; it was merely the ques-
ton of the protection of the lives Of
American citizens IN the UNITED
STATES from Mexican bullets. In
stead of removing the cause of the
killing of our citizens in our own
country, Mr.. Taft directed that Amer
lean citizens resident in douglas,
Arizona, should take to their cyclone
cellars
And yet Mr.. Hughes views Mr.. Will
sons performances with the "deep-
est shame"-for campaign purposes
In one of his last messages to Con-
gress, December 8, 1912, President
Taft thus summed up his Mexican
policy:
Throughout this trying period, the
policy of the United States has been
one of patient non-intervention,
steadfast recognition of constituted
authority in the neighboring nation,
and the exertion of every effort to
care for American interests
President Taft thus aptly express
ed the policy of the nation for near
ly century with respect to non-in-
PREVENTION in Mexico.
1.-TWO months later, on February
26, he declared: I'VE must avoid in
every way that which is called inter-
vention and use all the patience pos
sible, with the prayer that some
power may arise there to bring about
peace throughout that troubled coun-
try. IS But I have no sympathy
none at all, and the charge of
cowardice does not frighten me
that which prompts us for purposes
other country and involve ourselves
in a war, the extent of which we
could mot realize, at the sacrifice of
thousands of lives and of millions of
treasure"
| President Wilson has been no more
afraid of the charge of cowardice
than was President Taft Both knew
what intervention meant and who
would profit by war
Since President Taft left the White
House, he has more than once in in
teryiews and in public speeches ap-
proved President Wilson for refusing
to be stampeded into intervening in
Mexico. On one occasion he declar-
ed it to be 'the duty Of all good eiti-
zens to uphold, President Wilson in
the very difficult situation (Mexico)
that confronts him and to refrain
from embarrassing him by criticism.
In dealing with foreign affairs every
President is entitled to support from
his fellow-Americahs. 1t is their
patriotic duty
On another occasion President Taft
said: Nothing in the Monroe Doc
trine requires us to bring about peace
in Mexico. If we are forced to inter-
vene we will be justified because we
have a right to object to a condition
of anarchy I'm country Immediately
adjoining ours so long continued as
to become an International nuisance.
I entirely acquit the present admins
tration of any desire to involve us in
| war with Mexico, andTI credit it with
an earnest and sincere wish to avoid
| it if possible"
Taft's Vice-President. Fairbanks,
"a in f0 Of M
Hughes, even more explicitly sized up
| the Mexican situation, and approved
| President Wilson's policy: ct have
no doubt that the disturbances in
Mexico during the last few years have
| been due, in a greater or less degree,
to an effort on the part Of ambitious
cunning men to force intervention
and possibly annexation to the United
| States.
"Sensationalists are adding to the
confusion Of the situation and MAX
| ing more difficult the solution of the
problem. Intervention means war,
and war means the destruction Of
human lives and the expenditure of
hundreds Of millions Of dollars.
| President Wilson is dealing with
It (tf1e sitnation) as best he can
1T IL not an hour for either little
politics or sensational journalism.
The elamor of the LIMOGES should not
be allowed to drown the voice of RAJ
tiona1, deliberate craftsmanship. 1t is
q pretty safe rule, when we come to
! deal with ave~international prob
lens, to put our faith in the Presi-
dent of the United States and follow
| where he may lead, The President
| Of the United States is a safer guide
| than sensationalists and the soldiers
OF fortune who come to the surface
whenever international controversies
arise"
This was in an address to the Re-
publican Association Of Indiana's
Editors.
Throughout a period of nearly 100
years, dating from the first days of
the Mexican Republic, there have
been murders and robberfes and out
RACES of Americans by Mexicans An
drew Jackson, in response to request,
submitted to Congress a list of the
murders and robberies of Americans
in Mexico. There have been border
troubles as now, since there was a
| Mexican Republic, yet never inter-
vention.
It so happens that the most aggres-
sive steps that have been taken with
respect to Mexican affairs came dur
ing Democratic Administrations. An
drew Jackson, first Democratic Presi-
| dent, while expressing q policy of
! non aryenfiaE in Meyiea sa;d ae.