The Mexican Danger.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 23, 1913:
    The change in the attitude of President Wilson toward the Mexican problem is not encouraging. The promise of a message on the subject to Congress at this time, to be delayed three or four days, indicates a desire to get an expression of public opinion, to shift, in some measure, the burden of responsibility which hitherto he has insisted upon bearing without help. The intimation that the forthcoming message will suggest a "show of force" by the United States in Mexico is, we hope, made without authority. Already the international situation is so involved that only wisdom and prudence in every succeeding action of our Government can avert trouble. A "show of force" in the sister republic at this time would have perilous results. Huerta's followers would then have the support of Zapatistas, Carranzistas, Vasquistas, of the Church Party, and the remnant of the Cientificos against any outside interference.
    The President's action in sending a personal envoy on a secret mission to Mexico has been generally approved, or at least not harshly condemned, because of the common belief that the President's information regarding the Mexican situation was more complete and sounder than the people's; in short, that he knew what he was doing. Somewhat disturbing reports as to the plans of the mission have been ignored. But it seems that the reports were well founded. Mr. Lind has made proposals to the Mexican Executive which have been rejected, and the negotiations are possibly at an end. It is obvious that in the present critical situation no proposal which could be thus rejected should have been made. The mission is a failure, and our relations with Mexico are more delicate than ever.
    In the circumstances a full report of the conditions in Mexico, as Mr. Lind sees them, seems to be called for. He is believed to be a man of clear vision and practical common sense. If his report should indicate that the Government of Gen. Huerta is strongly supported, that his control of affairs is reasonably firm, the duty of our Government is obvious. The mistake that has been made should be rectified. Pride should not influence President Wilson longer to withhold recognition. The acknowledgment of his error would be more manly than to persist in a wrong course. If, on the other hand, Mr. Lind could show that Huerta's power is waning, that fact should be made known to the American public.
    Inevitably the promised message to Congress recalls Mr. McKinley's message before the outbreak of the Spanish war, just as Mr. Lind's visit to Mexico is a reminder of the visit to Cuba of Senator Redfield Proctor of Vermont, whose report on his return was so enlightening to the Senate and the people. The two cases, however, are not otherwise similar. No humane reason could justify our interference in Mexico as matters now stand, yet our present course is tending toward more or less interference, if not positive intervention. Whatever the President's intention may have been, and we have no doubt that he was assured that his efforts as a mediator were well advised, the action of our Government thus far has increased Mexican hostility to us. We must reckon in all our dealings with Latin America with the bad influence of the ill-judged acts of previous Administrations. That our proffer of good offices should be subject to suspicion is inevitable. It is surely not our business to dictate to the Mexican people who should govern them, or to take sides against an established Government, whatever opinion we may entertain of the means of its establishment. The opponents of the Government at the Mexican capital are split up into many factions without community of interest. They have no coherence, and the sole object of some of them is plunder.
    Continued interference with Mexican affairs must tend to a rupture of all international relations, if not to war. If war is precipitated, the Administration will have a difficult, an impossible, task to justify itself before the people, and the political party it represents will need many years to live down the evil repute thus fastened upon it. It is a part of good statesmanship to recognize frankly its own errors, if errors have been committed, and rectify them in the most generous manner.