It is too late now to talk of peace. Much
the best thing would be for the United States effectually to occupy Mexico, and administer it for a period long enough to test the ability Of the Mexicans to govern themselves. The United States is perfectly justified in refusing to tolerate a continual state of brigandage and violence on her frontier. If she sets herself systematically to conquer and restore order in Mexico, she will have the sincerest good wishes of all who think that civiliza- tion is preferable to barbarism. The cheers which the British sailors gave to the American landing parties at Vera Cruz were an absolutely accurate expresaion of the feelings of all men of British birth. We are heart and soul for the United States as against Mexico. The only ground for criticism we have is that Mr. Wilson has so long deluded himself as to the true effects of his policy. The speeches of Mr. Root and Mr. Lodge in the Senate, arguing that it was absurd to pretend that hostilities could be taken against General Huerta alone, were, to our thinking, unanswerable.
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