Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-22
CHAPTER XIX.
Mexico

the NIadero government, which broke
, out in Mexico City on February 9
1913. The murder Of eX-Presiden
Madero and Vice President Suarez
and the usurpatiOn OF presidential
authority by General VictorianC
Huerta, minister of foreign affairs
and the general Industrial and sOcia
chaos of Mexico made it necessary
for the new administration, only (
month in power, quickly to act ans
to declare it's policy with reference
to the question then pending as tt
the recognition the provisional
government, the head of which was
Huerta. After becoming president
of Mexico, the usurper had brazenlJ
addressed the following telegram tt
President Taft: II have overthrow
the government, and, therefore
peace and order will reign" anc
boldly asserted a claim to recogni
ton by the government of the Unit
ed States. This was the status o.
affairs in Mexico when President
Wilson was inaugurated. The duly
elected president of Mexico, Fran
cisco MaderO, had been overthrow
by a band OF conspirators headed by
Huerta. Were the fruits Of the hard
won fight Of the Mexican masses
against the arbitrary rule of the IA
vOred few to be wasted? president
Wilson answered this question in his
formal statement OF March -, 1918
eight days after his inauguration
With respect to Latin-American af
fairs, he said:
One Of the chief objects of my
administration will be to cult
vate the friendship and deserve
the confidence of our sister re-
publics of Central and South
America, and to promote in ev-
cry proper and honorable way
the interests which are common
to the peoples of the two CONT
nents. [ earnestly desire the
most cordial understanding and
cooperation between the peoples
and leaders of America, and,
therefore, deem it my duty to
make this brief statement:
Cooperation is possible only
when supported at every turn by
the orderly processes of@ust gov
eminent based upon laws, not
upon arbitrary or irregular force.
We hold, as [ am sure all
thoughtful leaders OF Republican
governments everywhere hold,
that just government rests al
ways upon the consent of the
governed, and that there can be
no freedom without order based
upon law and upon the public
conscience and approval.W shall
look to make these principles
the basis Of mutual intercourse,
respect and helpfulness between
our sister republics and our
selves. E. We can have no sym
pathy with those who seek to
seize the power of government
to advance their own personal
interests or ambition.
Two considerations animated the
president in the formulation of his
Mexican policy and compelled his
adherence in it throughout his adj
ministratiOn, namely:
The firm conviction that all ma
tons, both the weak and the power.
full, have the inviolable right to con.
troll their internal affairs.
The belief established from the his.
tory of the world, that Mexico will
never become a peaceful and law.
abiding neighbor of the United States
until she has been permitted to
achieve q permanent basis of set.
tlement of her troubles without out.
side interference.
Steadfastly, Woodrow Wilson re.
fused to recognize Huerta as the pro.
visional president of Mexico. He said
Huerta, the bitter, implacable foe of
everything progressive and humane
in Mexico, boldly defending the priv.
leges Of the old cientifico group
which he represented, openly defied
the authority OF the United States
and sneered at the much ridiculed
policy of "Watchful Waiting" pro.
claimed by the new administration
and laughed to scorn the high ideal.
ism which lay behind it. To him
the declaration of the American
president, that we can have no sym
pathy with those who seek to seize
the power Of government to advance
their own personal interests or am.
bltlon, was mere gesture, too
puerile to be seriously considered.
Against the ,SingOes
While Huerta in Mexico was bla-
family denouncing this benevolent
policy Of cooperation and helpful.
ness, aid and comfort were rendered
the usurper by the jingoistic crit.
cism of the presidents enemies in
The United States congress and
throughout the country, many of
whom, urged on by the oil interests.
in their mad delirium, cried out for
blood andfron policy toward Mex
leo. Resisting the American inter.
ests in Mexico was a part of the
presidents task. Those who cried
loudest for intervention were they
who had land, mineral, and industrial
investments in Mexico. The "vigor.
Gus American policy which they de.
manded was q policy for persona!
enrichmeft 1t was with this phase
OF the matter in mind that the presi.
dent said, Il have to pause and re.
mind myself I am the president OF
the United States and not of a small
group of Americans with vested in
terests in Mexico"
But the new president, having map.
ped out the course he was to follow
course fraught with a great deal
of danger to his administration, seek.
ing to bring about the moral isola.
ton of Huerta himself, calmly NOV.
ed. on, apparently unmindful of the
Jeers and ridicule of his critics in
America and elsewhere. Il am will.
.Eg," he said. no matter what nv
personal fortunes may be, to pIay
for the verdict of mankind. Per.
sonally, it will be a matter of in.
difference to me what the verdict
on the seventh of November is, pro.
vlded [ feel any degree of confidence
that when a later jury sits 1 shall
get their Judgment in my favor. Not
my favor personally-What differ.
ence does that make?-but my fav
or as an honest and conscientious
spokesman Of a great national con
vention."
What an utterly foolish thing, said
his critics, it is to attempt in this
day to oust a Mexican dictator by
mere rhetoric and high-soundine
phrasesi
When Wilson said "Tha situation
must be given a little more time tc