Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-07-30

MEXICAN SITUATION BAD.
Has Become Disgrace and Menace to
Our Free Government.


7 he Mexican situation grows daily
more threatening. Closely follow ing
the murder of an American citizen in
the Tampico district, comes the report
of an attack on party sot American
soldiers in uniform and occupying a
boat flying the American flag.
This latest result took place within
three miles of the town of Tampico,
where it is estimated 1900 Carranza
soldiers are stationd. Doubtless int
mediate demands will be made by the
United States for an explanation and
an apology, which may or may not be
forthcoming. But, in any event, these
most recent manifestations are merely
two more incidents in the long and un
broken record of murders, confscations,
and insults to everything American
' that has marked Mexico's relations
with this country since the down failcf
the Diaz regime and the Inauguration
of the Wilson policy of watchful wait
ing.
That policy has been Interpreted by
the Mexicans as standing lnvltation
to commit any excess they pleased
against citizens of the United States.
Is it not about time to call halt,
and return to the Only honorable course
that seif-respecting nation can fol-
! low, that of extending the protection
of the American flag to every citizen
wherever he may he.
There is no doubt that pltriotism is
decidedly on the mane in this county
] Form every side ecome motterings Of
3discontent. Societies of various sorts,
! and of differing 'creeds on some SUBJ
jects, ARE united Fin attaEks upon the
| existing government and demands for
! its on erthrow. The males are filled
with their propaganda, and new pub
Iieaticns are spriDginf up almost
every day for the spread of their
! doctrines.
Members of those organizations see
in our Federal Government merely an
1 ms titg ton for the leyying of killing
taxes; For the Communicating and
withholding from private consumption
of great quantities .of.food, clothing.
and ether necessities of Life; for seek
ing to guarantee in. advance our en-
trance into all the foreign wars of the
future; and for aidinR in and making
certain the success Of huge loans by
a combination of American bank ers
to newly created and irresponsible
European states.
While the Government is engaged
in those activities the phople witness
the wenton murder of orr citizens at
our very door, accompanied by the
wholesale destruction of American
property and repeated insults to our
flag. Is Ithere little wonder that with
those facts before them some classes
of our people are insistent for a
change?
What this country needs above any
other one thing is a. stimulation to
its patriotism. Let the people see
their Government as an organization
whose sole object is the maintenance
of the welfaGe of the citizens and the |
protection of his life and property,
and it will receive ungrudglng support
ftom the public. Let those qualities
be lacking, and In their stead appear
the interest enumerated above, and
the Government will surely lose the
support of the peolpe. without which
t cannot survive.
Ono of the most positive steps we
,ar take toward the rejuvenation of
rational pride is the adoption of a
Mexican policy that will have for It's
,bject the protection of American life
md property end the establishment of
aw and order in that distracted coun-
ry.
We need to but repeat our record in
;uba, where we stood only long enough /
0 put the country firmly on its feet,
nd provide for the continuance of or
ery government.
Such an attitude toward Mexico
1ould do more than any other thing to
malgamate the varying schools of I
hought in this country, and win the
onfidence and respect of other 2
ations.' i