The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1914. TWO PRESIDENTS: A CONTRAST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 213, 9 March 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1914. TWO PRESIDENTS: A CONTRAST.

The murder of Mr. Benton, a British subject, in Mexico has apparently made it imperative that there shall be outside intervention in the affairs of that unhappy country; and it is generally recognised that, if forcible means are to be employed, the duty of so employing them falls upon the Government of tile United States. It is a self-imposed task of the great American Republic, and a consequence of the Monroe Doctrine, that the United States shall, as it were, be responsible for the good behaviour of nil the minor States on the continents of North and South America. The policy with regard to Mexico in its present state of anarchy has been stated by President WilsMi as follows: The United States will insist on the elimination of General Huerta and al! those closely associated with liirn from the control of public affairs, and to secure this will invade Mexico if necessary. . . . When the elimination of General Huerta has been obtained efforts will be directed to inducing someone acceptable to both factions to assume the provisional presidency under the protection of the United Stales. What i« the attitude of General lluorta, the dictator and self-appointed President of Mexico? He said a few weeks ago to an American visitor who unofficially called on him at the national palace: "Ilell will hold both Woodrovv Wilson and myself before 1 resign. The time lias gone past when I will give the slightest consideration to any proposition that I leave the presidency. Once I might have resigned at the bidding of almost anyone, but now, no. It is not a question of pride, ambition or pomp with me, but a duty—nothing else. What does Woodrow Wilson know of Mexico, or of what kind of government its people needt Nothing. He does not understand that Mexico is like a sijake, with its life in its head. And lliey will have to batter this old head off my shoulders before they kill me or my Government." Huerta can on occasion use high-sounding language expressing oxalted sentiments. His violent assumption of authority he has justified by r quoting the words of Napoleon—'The I law is not violated when one saves the Fatherland." This is an admirable axiom, but it does not apply to Huerta's case any more than it did to Napoleon's. Bonaparte had not the excuse ■ that he was fighting for his fatherland, as he was not French, but Corsican. Huerta is of course a Mexican, but he ii> not saving his fatherland, but in- ' stead is handing it over to civil war, jj with attendant misery, massacre and [• anarchy. Had lie listened to President {• Wilson's advice, Mexico would months j, ago have been restored to tranquility, j" The United States Government has lis 'f oilier desire than the welfare of Mexi, ico. Here are the noble sentiments of £ President Wilson, uttered when lie was > addressing a meeting that embraced rei> presentatives of six of the Latin States J of America: . "T take this occasion to say that the • United States will never again seek one J additional foot of territory by conquest. > . . . She must regard it as one of the ' duties of friendship to see that from 110 i quarter are material interests made su- > perior to human liberty and national | opportunity. ... Do not think, i gentlemen, that questions of the day are 1 mere questions of policy and diplomacy. | They are shot through wil't the prini ciples of life. We dare not turn from 1 the principle that morality and not cx- \ pediency is the thing that must guide i us, and that we will never condone ini- | quity because it is most convenient to > do so." , These words embody the exalted mo- | tives that animate the Government and > the United States in dealing with the i weaker States in whose welfare and good | behaviour she is deeply interested. They • show President Wilson in sharp contrast i to President Huerta—the former inspir- . Ed by high ideals, seeking no advantage | for himself or his country; the latter a ■ hasty and violent man, grasping' power for himself and carrying on a civil wa» ! against one half of the people, with great vindictiveness and barbarity. We may rest asured that, if the United Slates should forcibly intervene in Mexico, the work of pacifying that country and restoring settled government and prosperity will be done with the minimum of harshness and bloodshed. It is to bo hoped, however, that the task will be undertaken promptly and carried out firmly and unhesitatingly.