Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 116, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1919 — ANOTHER WHITE MANS BURDEN [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER WHITE MANS BURDEN

Washington, May 17.—The Republican Publicity Association, through its President, Hon, Jonathan Bourne, Jr., today gave.out the followingstatement from its Washington headquarters; - - “Our entrance into the world war eclipsed for the time being the troubles we were having with Mexico. Gen. Pershing, in charge of affairs on the border, was hastily called to Washington and sent to France, All eyes centered on the operations on the Western Front, and the escapades of Villa and his fellow bandits were lost sight of for the moment. But now that matters have subsided in Europe begins to hear again the sounds of revolution in our neighbor to the south. Once again Villa has called hjs followers together, captured the city of Parral, hanged it* mayor and his three sons, and threatened Torreon and Chihuahua. It may be that his next move will be in the direction of Mexica City, or he may attempt a sortie across the international boundary and shoot up a town on this side of the line. Americans in Mexico recognize the seriousness of the situation, and are said to be moving northward as rapidly as they can. “In view of the fact that conditions in that-benighted country have not improved, but rather have grown steadily worse during the time we have been engaged abroad, are we to witness a resumption of the ‘watchful waiting’ policy that characterized our relations with Mexico before the European war? Ever since the abdication of,, Diaz from the preside ncy in 1912 there has been a contest for the ascendency among various leaders who have arisen in dis-

ferent parts of the republic to fight ior control. The net result has been bloodshed, the complete disruption of the industries of the country, and the destruction of many millions of dollars worth of property. It is said that more Americans have lost their lives by violence in Mexico than perished on the Lusitania, and there is no indication of any change in the program in the years to come. “The United States cannot go on forever assuming a supine attitude of indifference toward affairs in Mexico. Peace and order must be brought about. The Mexicans having demonstrated their utter inability to correct conditions, and with no prospect of a change, in the futqre,- it is the obvious duty of the Unite States to step in and put an effective end to jfurther villainy. We owe it to our own self respect, to tiie guarantee of safety that should follow every American citizen wherever he may go, and to the moral obligations we have assumed toward the citizens of other countries who have property interests in Mexico. Having under the Monroe Doctrine, denied to European nations the right to enter and subdue the country by force, we should not hesitate to see that other nations get decent treatment at the hands of the Mexicans. “Now is the time to go into Mexico take control of her affairs and manage them until it has been demonstrated that she is able to maintain a respectable government herself. We have’A’ large army of highly trained soldiery, many of whom doubtless would volunteer for service in Mexico. We have a huge motor transportation equipment, plenty of airplanes with trained pilots, ample artillery,’rifles and tanks for use in any expedition that might be undertaken. Our military storehouses are stacked with supplies of every kind for such a venture. It is evident that the job could be done quickly, thoroughly, and at a minimum expense in money and lives. Why not recognize the inevitable and attend to the business while we have the means at hand? A large majority of the people of Mexico are anxious to live respectable lives and earn their living, which they are entirely prevented from doing by the outlaw bands that drove the country. As a result disease and starvation are killing them like flies. The United States owes it to humanity to step in and give those poor people the right to productive employment that has been so long denied them.”