ripe, but knowing that the dissemination of interventionist propaganda was one means of ripening the time; knowing, even, that criticism of the President, and misrepresentation of his policy, was one means of ripening the time.
The fact that the President has not yet attempted a war of conquest on Mexico is no evidence that he will not engage in such a war, when the time is ripe. His diplomacy has been directed unfalteringly toward protecting vested interests in Mexico, and especially toward seeking to set up a government satisfactory to vested interests. In pursuance of this end, he has threatened war, has perpetrated legal acts of war, has placed us in a position where war could not have been avoided had the Mexican Government been as unyielding in maintaining the "dignity and authority" of Mexico on Mexican soil as he in maintaining the "dignity and authority" of the United States.
So, even if we did not have the example of Haiti, Santo Domingo, and Nicaragua, before us, we would know that the President did not refrain from the extreme step because of any question of principle.
Why, then, have we not yet essayed to conquer Mexico?
There have been questions of expediency. "Our job" in Mexico is not one that can be attended to, as in Haiti, by mere fiat of the President, and practically in secret. It must have, at least, partially, the backing of public opinion. In 1914, we took Vera Cruz under the guns of American battleships. We could have held Vera Cruz indefinitely under the guns of American battleships. But we could not have sent an army on to Mexico City. The forces of occupation numbered fewer than 7,000, and it required several weeks to get that number there.
In 1914, the United States was blessed with unpreparedness. The army that we had in 1914 was incapable of conquering Mexico. We would have had to manufacture an army to attempt such a thing—the war would have had to become a political question. It happened that the Vera Cruz expedition did not excite any wildly warlike spirit in the American people. Recruiting in our army and navy did not pick up. Conscription in those days was a thing beyond the American imagination. In 1914 we were in a position to meddle and coerce, but not to crush.
In 1915 and 1916, we were engaged in controversies with European belligerents. Our pacific and idealistic President
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