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Show PUTTING THE HAND TO THE PLOW. There was an odd, officious, nied' esomo, ubquiious bob-in-and-bob-out oharaet aboul the hotel in the play called "Little Johnny Jones." The quiet man, annoyed by his pestiferous por- ' tihacityy asks him: "Who are you?" "I'm the starter," arrogantly exclaims the busy one. "Well, don't start anything you can't finish," says the quiet man. And that would have been good counsel for President Wilson, in the Mexican affair. He has started something that ho didn't have the nerve to finish. It is a groat disappointment. When the President of one nation tolls an-othor an-othor nation to suppress a certain candidate, and the other nation replies that it will attend to its own business, the presumptuous President has not alone humilated himself. Ho has shamed his nation Unless: He goes through. President Wilson's letter to the Mexicans, outlining the attitude of his country toward their own, was one of the best state papers over written. It has worthy placo in the archives with tho arguments of Jefferson and of Chase, of Franklin and of Washburn. Tho very quality of it committed him to an undeviating forward progress. It meant interference in Mexican civil affairs and it was interference. It meant tho I Mexicans must and at once definitely declare Huerta eliminated from any further control of r affairs in the Mexican nation, and by that limitation limita-tion siezed direction of the Mexican election. Of course it went farther having gone so far. It went to tho limit of committing tho whole power of tho United States to crush Huerla's powor. If that splondid papor of the President meant anything at all, it meant this nation would paoify Mexico poacoably if we could, forcibly if wp must. But that Huorta must bo suppressed, as a starter. Tho policy was right, of course. That monster now dominating Moxico City provided exactly tho cause in which humanity all over the world could have backed Prosidont Wilson in pacifying Mexico. Tho cause of nations, tho interest Of tho race, tho prosperity of Mexico were involved. Ho started right. Ho didn't have the nervo to finish. When the Mexicans told him they hadn't been strong for Huorta but would permit no powor inside their own land to pick presidents for them, thoy mado exactly tho move Woodrow Wilson migh have expected. And his next stop was plain. Because ho bad so gontly told them to put out Huerta and shut tho door was the very reasdn ho should have thrown Huorta out of tho window instant on their refusal to obey him. And ho didn't do it. He started something he didn't daro finish. A man has a right to act the fool on a plank in mid-ocean. But the wight that rocks the boat when it is full of people is feared by all tho world that doesn't despise him. The Bible has something about tho fellow who "puts his hand to tho plow" and then turns back. For St. Paul and God, Americans and Mexico, all hate a quitter. |