The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-08-22
my BROTHERS KEEPER"

my BROTHERS KEEPER"
To Mexicans any statement to the eff
feet that Omniscience has a chosen
people for the advancement of the
world will sound specious, just as,
to those who have participated in pro-
jects of benevolent assimilation and
conquest, it will sound convincing
Whatever the viewpoint, the conclus-
ion to a thoughtful man seems I'M
available that this is the real ques
ton involved in the matter of inter
vention in Mexico by these United
States. Jealous nationalism inclines
rather to the plea that our citizens
have been induced to go to the rich
southern republic. have there been en-
couraged to invest their money and
project their highly efficient industrial
and commercial talents in great en-
terprises of development, and now
have been robbed, mauled, hanged,
shot up and generally and somewhat
picturesquely maltreated, sometimes
by emissaries of the government"
but always without recourse or in
Identification. Rightly enough we do
not like to read or hear that Amer
leans have been insulted or murdered
anywhere in the world by a people
twiddling derisive thumb at nose
end when we protest. But this, except
from the nationalist point of view,
seems to be an incidental matter, bad
as it is. If we go into Mexico our
proximate reason may be some such
covert act" as the murder of an Am
erican engineer or capitalist or even
humble laborer. Before we go, now
ever, we must pretty thoroughly have
settled for ourselves the question OF
the justification civilization will find
for us. Not alone our excuse but the |
nature of our performance will be the |
standard by which we will be judged
and by which we can honestly judge /
ourselves. In so far as we enter Mex
leo Gf ever we do) with fair and hon
orable intentions towards her, and in
SO far as we conduct ourselves there
and come away afterwards with clean
hands and ideals sustained will we
find our case just. The better Mexi-
cans are honorable intelligent, civ
ilized and admirable people: to them
we will owe scrupulous justice in
deed and word-if we chastice it must
be in pity, and with helpful spirit.
Elsewise we had far better stay at u
home. September Sunset.
"a "a pa
THE WATER MELON KILLING
A tragedy near Boise has brought
deep sorrow to two homes farmer
whose water melon patch had been
frequently raided lay in wait with a
shot gun and when young man en-
intend to kill the lad, but one of the
small shot entered the boys heart
and caused his death. The farmer
surrendered and is in jail The boy
was buried and sorrow presides in
both homes.
1t is a sad, sad case. Perhaps both
were to blame. Since water melons
were first grown the stealing of a
melon has not been regarded as
crime, but more as a prank in which
almost every one mas INDUCED. The
boy whose life was taken was not q
.hief. He is said to have been fine
young man. The farmer who killed
him was not criminal. He is said
. have always born a splendid repu-
alton.
But his melons had been stolen re-
3eatedly. They were his crop--his
and he valued them highly.
It is very, very annoying to have ones
property stolen or DESTROYED Farm
RS living near Moscow know how this
s. They know how people from town,
,eople who move in good society, peo
lie who would not be discourteou5 or
in town go into their
richards and steal their fruit; into
heir berry patches and steal their
,erries, go through the farmers gates
nd leave them open and act as rude
y and discourteously and dishonesty
s professional hoboes and thieves,
BUT these people do not think they are
o1ng wrong. They are in the conn
~ away from the ethics of the city
r town-among a lot of 'rubes' and
hey think they have rignt to show