Malden High School - Maldonian Yearbook (Malden, MA)

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ORATION WAR IN MEXICO AND ITS OUTCOME JACOB PHILIP RUDIN There is an old rhyme, handed down through the ages, that follows this trend of thought: The good old way, the ancient plan, That he shall take who hath the might, And he shall keep who can. The spirit embodied in this rhyme seems to be that of some people in reference to America’s attitude toward Mexico. “Make war upon Mexico,” they say, “we have sufficient cause and superior strength which will give us victory in a very short while. A war with Mexico would be of a character so peculiar as to draw the attention of the whole world. It would be a war between such unequal combatants that its causes would be carefully scrutinized by other nations. Thus, the first effect of such a war would be upon our moral standing with the rest of the world. A war will convince no one that Mexico is a menace to our national safety—in fact, such a statement will place us in the same class with Germany when she alleged that Belgium was in league with France and England to conquer her. We may contend that official reports show that two hundred and nineteen Americans have been killed in Mexico during the past nine years, but what shall we answer when investigation shows that five hundred and forty-four Americans have been lynched here in the United States during the same length of time? Of course this comparison does not exonerate the Mexicans, yet it clearly shows the futility of making lawlessness the basis of war. American financial interests have probably been impaired in Mexico, They were in the recent constitutional changes in reference to oil mining. These new regulations make it necessary for a man to get a permit each time he wishes to bore a new well. They also, to some extent, increased the taxes on the wells. We ourselves, however, have not always considered foreign interests. What Page Thirteen

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CLASS BOOK OF 1920A MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL language; one loyalty, loyalty to the American people.” Let me close with a tribute paid him by his intimate friend, Jacob Riis: “Roosevelt was a Soldier, Statesman, Scientist, Student of Nature, Scholar, Writer on many subjects, Patriot and Christian Gentleman; a man whose watch¬ word was Duty, and whose guiding stars were Truth and Humanity, whose life was one of Service for the Right, for Country, and for God. Happy we who had such a friend ! Happy the American Republic which bore such a son!” tA.Yi. AW Page Twelve

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CLASS BOOK OF 192 0 A MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL shall we say in regard to the anti-oriental land laws passed in California? People talk about our duty to enter Mexico - clean it up and bring peace and harmony out of the present chaos. Alien bayonets never produce “peace and harmony” They can do aught else but produce a deeper chaos and greater internal disruption. It is granted that we can conquer Mexico, but at what a cost! If we make war on Mexico it will not be with a small-scale armament. We will enter with a force of sufficient power and equipment to make any resistance useless, for we will not throw away American lives by carrying on the war with anything approaching evenly-matched battles. If all war necessitated was a seizure of the principal ports and cities, the force required would not be excessively large, but we are to enter a war for the suppression of bandits, and for that purpose we must despatch large bodies of troops throughout the country to crush out all opposition. The time necessary to do this, according to eminent military authorities, is two years; the force, not less than five hundred thousand men. This initial procedure means an outlay of two billion dollars and thereafter a continual financial drain of half a billion dollars a year for the maintenance of garrisons. And when we have finally conquered Mexico, how do the values returned compare with those expended ? The approximate American holdings in Mexico amount to a scant billion dollars. For an expenditure of two billions, one billion dollars are returned and countless, precious, American lives lost. Our interests are bound up not only in Mexico but in all the Latin American peoples south of Panama. The future trade with these nations will be worth many times over the profits derived from Mexican occupation. What will be the result if we go to war with Mexico? We shall incur the hostility of these people, for the South American nations will not calmly see one of their sister republics merged and assimilated with ours. From the time we enter Mexico, the South American people will regard our investments and commercial advances as tools of peaceful penetration leading to ultimate conquest. This is the proposition advanced to the American people—a war, which, for no worth-while returns, calls for the loss of a great many lives beside increased financial responsibility for every citizen in the land. Instead of trying to wage war with Mexico, let us find out something of the conquests which have made her what she is. Let us see some of the ideals for which she is struggling, and the trials which she is undergoing. When we have done these things, then shall we substitute sympathy and pity for our hatred; then will Mexico be understood and allowed to work out her destiny in her own way to ultimate victory over the present existing strife. Page Fourteen