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The Commoner
VOL. 14, NO. 4
14
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millan was benevolent. Mndero was generous.
Huorta Is malignant and revengeful. Maxmilian
was sqlf-sacrlficing. Madero was patriotic.
Huorta Is cruel and avaricious. Ills character is
oxompllflod In his declaration: "It costs but
thlrty-flvo conts to buy enough rope to hang a
rebel."
VILLA, TUB TIGER
"Tho vital, dominating loader of the rebel
armies is Villa; It is not Carranza. Carranza is
liko Madero. Villa Is like Huorta. His sagacity
arid aggressiveness have mado him tho master
and the torror of northern Mexico. Villa recog
nizes noithor law nor custom. His most strik
ing characteristic is vindictlveness coupled with
a marked capacity for military leadership. It is
Illustrated by his now famous tdast:
" 'I hope to live to eat the beef that will fatten
on tho gross which will grow on tho graves of
all my onemies.'
"Tho slaughter of Benton and tho murder of
Bauch, respectively British and American sub
jects, by this 'human tiger,' have alienated tho
sympathy of tho administration and consigned
the. cause of the constitutionalists to doubt, if
not to doom, in tho minds and consciences of all
our people.
"With Villa in command in tho north and
Huorta in power in tho south, what hope has
Moxicp?
"If tho constitutionalist cause should triumph,
tho fato of Madero may become tho lot of Car
ranza. Villa will probably dominate him or de
stroy him. Tho dark ages with all their horrors,
tyranny, usurpation and torture, cannot produce
names more hideous in all that implies oppression
and outrage than tho names of Huorta and Villa!
Thero iB little choice between these men. Huorta
stands for tho old regime. Villa fights for its de
struction. VILLA AGAINST HUERTA
"Tho war in Mexico is not so much a political
upheaval. It is more a social and industrial
earthquake. If Huerta prevails, cruolty and con
fiscation will continue. If Villa overcomes him,
anarchy and outlawry will supplant tyranny.
Huorta conscripts into the federal service the
imprisoned and tho afflicted. Villa enlists out
laws and women. No cause in any country can
bo hopoless which inspires its women to fight.
The struggle is measurably between those who
liavo fattened by oppression and those who have
lived in spite of it. Tho cause of the constitu
tionalists will bo retarded, if not defeated, by
its "lawless leadership, which seems to recognize
no limitation upon its own wrath. It is not re
markable that the United States should refuse
to recognize either Huorta or Carranza. Our
sympathy for those who fight in tho name of
liberty is justified by tho history and traditions
or our own people.
WATCHFUL WAITING
;"The policy of the United States toward
Mexico is characterized by the president himself
as 'Watchful waiting.' We cannot recognize a
government founded on treachery and assassina
, tion. Neither can wo intervene to ostablish a
rule which violates the fundamental principles
of individual liberty, and imprisons and kills
the Innocent in tho name of liberty.
"The policy of our government is justified by
many considerations. The spirit of impatience
Which has prompted some to advocate armed in
tervention must bo restrained. Our experience
in tho Philippines, and tho wholo history of
Mexico, warn us against hasty or inconsiderate
action. Intervention means a long period of
occupation. It makes certain the sacrifice of
thousands of lives. More than that, it contem
plates the assumption of a burden which cannot
now bo weighed. It would array all Mexico
against the United States and unite all factions
thero against our armies. Let those who criti
cise the policy of 'watchful waiting' anticipate
tho results of armed intervention. Let them
realize tho many, turbulent years of strife that
must follow; the blood that must inevitably
flow; the homes that must be made desolate
and the almost hopelessness of the problem of
bringing order out of chaos and of establishing
a stable government in Mexico on principles un
familiar to her people. Let them grasp if thov
can, the additional naval and military burdens
Vhich are the direct and necessary results n?
armed intervention. Unfortunately, the Scan
problem seems incapable of solution under aSv
plan that can be pre-determinod. Tho charnPtm.
habits, and traditions of the Mexican ln
underlie their present strugglo, afuf SfirmTho
administration's policy to leave Mexico to work
out her own salvation. Huerta and Villa must!
however, bo mado to realize tho sacredness
which other nations attach to human life and
property. They must bo instructed to look for a
day when every wrong perpetrated upon a
foreigner in Mexico must have restitution.
"GRAPE JUICE DIPLOMACY" AND THE
"BATTLESHIP, FRIENDSHIP"
"We now celebrate tho birthday of one who la,
in many respects, the most remarkable man of
our times. Upon his heart and conscience falls
heavily this vexing problem. Ho is your neighbor,
your favorite and friend, William J. Bryan, sec
rotary of state. Ho has lived all his days in tho
open. He is accustomed to fighting all his
battles before tho people. During the last
twenty years, Mr. Bryan has been the leader of
political reforms in tho United States. Many of
his principles have been written into the law.
President Wilson entrusted to him the portfolio
of secretary of state. In consequence, Mr. Bryan
has had tho 'laboring oar in foreign affairs. Ono
great principle has dominated his administra
tion. Ho has stood for peace, peace at home,
peace with all tho world! He has sought to
raise the standards of diplomacy. 'Grape juice
diplomacy,' and 'the battleship, friendship' have
been the slogan of those who would mock him.
Modest sobriety and universal peace have been
his aim. The time has not yet come when all
international problems may be frankly discussed
before the public. But the time is approaching
when simplicity and frankness will supplant
tho ancient and pompous practices of diplomats.
The time is coming when our diplomats will rep
resent at foreign courts the spirit of our insti
tutions. Secretary Bryan is the originator of
our policy of 'watchful waiting.' He hopes for
peaco; he labors to recognize and promote every
agency designed to establish justice and toler
ance among the nations. His heart and mind
are in sympathy with all the forces of progress
and enlightenment. He is not unmindful of the
obligations which accompany his position, and
which involve the power and dignity of tho
United States. He believes, however, that these
can best be demonstrated through moral force.
The men who provoke war are, as a rule, exempt
from its dangers and consequences. Mr. Bryan
believes that they who must bear its burdens
and endure its hardships should be considered
before yielding to the spirit of strife.
"Who is foremost in promoting world-wide
peace? Who has preferred the award of courts
to the arbitrament of the sword? Who has
stood and still stands as the torchbearer, the
herald of tho new civilization which recognizes
justice and mercy as indispensable in solving
disputes among individuals and nations. God
grant that in time our 'watchful waiting' may be
rewarded; that peace and liberty may come to
Mexico. If no other way can be found; if in the
end our armies must invade that land of beauty
and song, who will asperse the great Commoner
for raising his voice in warning against the woe
and desolation, the loss and grief which must
result! What fireside will not be brighter, what
homo will not be made securer by his admoni
tion; what victory will be made less glorious and
triumphant by his course."
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR COX
The following are excerpts from the speech
made by Governor Cox of Ohio:
"Most men who have mado vast contributions
to their race have been denied the satisfaction
of seeing their cause vindicated while they lived
While they knew full well that their cause was
just, their lives in many instances were dis
turbed by misrepresentation and condemnation
and they died, misunderstood.
"If there is any man who deserves a rich re
ward for service rendered, it is the distinguished
son of Nebraska, and conspicuous as he has been
for tho glorious part that he has played in the
reformation of our principles of government he
stands out peculiarly conspicuous in that he has
lived to see in tho very flower of his magnificent
manhood the vindication of his cause When
one goes back to tho campaign of. 1896, recalls
tho abuse, villification and misrepresentation
and thea views the present and see t lie f adoption"
of practically every principle of ZeSS.
enunciated at that time, he cannot but D0 im
pressed with the thought that, while Mr Br
was no elected to the presidency, the honors of
triumphf mCe "I6 DOt ciablentorShis
"It seems fitting, therefore, that the democrat
of the country should on the birthday of th
distinguished man pause and reflect L l
service which he has rendered couStTy men
and give appropriate tribute to the living, in
stead o: reserving it as a eulogy to the dead.
Of the six and a half million loyal democrats
who followed him in the great battle of 1890,
Ohio contributed her share, and I am here to
night to speak in behalf of the democracy of the
Buckeye state in praising the name and the
deeds of William J. Bryan. That the democracy
is triumphant in a great majority of the states,
northern and southern, and in the nation as
well, is due to the CHARTER OP HUMAN
RIGHTS which he souuded to the country in
1896.
"While the underlying principles of the Bryan
declaration in 1896 were in precise harmony
with the preachment and performance of Jeffer
son and Jackson, the country had drifted so far
from the channels of moral and constitutional
rights, that the thought of the land in regrettable
part, was lost in the commercial erase of the
day. In fact, the leadership of the then dom
inant party had been so open and brazen in its
policy of raising the commercialism of the coun
try superior to every other consideration, that
at least three presidential campaigns were fought
on the plea that 'Bryanism,' so called, would be
destructive to business. But with a moral vision
and courageous conviction characteristic of both
statesm;.. and patriot, Mr. Bryan grew stronger
in defeat while his opposition became weaker in
victory. The faithful army of 6,500,000 demo
crats remained true to their leader, because he
remained true and consistent to his principles.
No compromise was ever made for expedience
and by the mere force of personality and sheer
ability, in the face of the greatest odds that
ever confronted any public man in the life of
the American republic, the measure of popular
affection and confidence bestowed upon him, in
creased year by year, until his countrymen, by
formal verdict, accepted the principles which
were once pronounced revolutionary and danger
ous, to .tj both sound in theory and grounded in
justice and humanity.
"The Bryan birthday anniversary a year ago
was an occasion of great, rejoicing, because the
opportunity had been afforded by the American
people of adopting his theories. It is more than
that this year it is the greatest jubilee in the
history of democracy, because for the most part
these principles have been vitalized into law and
the country gives generous recognition of the
great benefits that are accruing to the people.
Industrial and financial freedom has been
achieved, and the electorate is no longer sub
jected to the corrupting influence of the interests
which sj successfully operated for years along
purely sordid lines. There may be those who
even to this day questiofi the position taken by
Mr. Bryan on the money question in 1896, but
the unprejudiced mind realizes that Almighty
solved the money question in or ng up the
great storehouses of gold in Alaska and South
Africa.
"That he was right in proclaiming the com
plete domination of our financial system by a
few men is evidenced by the universal rejoicing
occasioned by the passing of the currency law,
"That he was right in his courageous declara
tion on the tariff question is admitted now by
the adjustment of American industries to the
opportunities of a world-wide commerce made
possible by the destruction of a preferential
tariff system. The panic so long held out as a
nebulous threat over the country by the sinister
prophets of privilege is not a normal possibility
now, and the power to create panics and paralyze
the industries of the country no longer rests in
the hands of the gamblers of Wall street.
"That Bryan was right in insisting on the
popular election of United States senators is not
only evidenced by the adoption of the plan by a
prepondering number of our states, but the full
est vindication grows out of a complete change
t disilosi1tion and conduct of the senate,
it is more truly now a representative body and
the arrogance and defiance of other days are no
longer present. '
ftl'!JJat lle was right in contending that our
n LZeT deba,uched interests, which by
SSPfn5nnfntJributions made a clear barter and
dpmonH rileSia ' u?falr and Preferential laws, is
Smr?irated by .the l)urification of our elections
under the corrupt practices laws.
Z!? Hght in I18 insi8tent demand for
2? n2a iS "awstioned now, as thousands
for th I ,nn 8 and cororations willingly pay
benX T.ff government on the base of the
Denento which they derive from it.
iUelS wmhi?8 r,eht, in hiB warfare aainst
illegal combinations and conspiracies in restraint