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The United States has had no steady business or political policy toward Mexico. It has been "Go in!" "Come out!" "Go back!" "Stay out!" The Washington declaration has been, "Down with the tariff and into the export field," and when hands have been uplifted from Mexico, our nearest and most needy field for export, Mr. Bryan has responded, "Why don't you stay at home?"

I heard it declared in Mexico, "Every Wilson policy toward Mexico has been wrong. Never has the right thing been done at the right time; but in extenuation of Mr. Wilson it must be admitted that nobody can now say what would have been the correct policy toward Mexico."

The strong policy was when Evarts wrote to our Minister Foster in Mexico in August, 1878: —

The first duty of a government is to protect life and property. This is a paramount obligation. For this governments are instituted, and governments neglecting or failing to perform it become worse than useless. This duty the government of the United States has determined to perform to the extent of its power toward its citizens on the border. It is not solicitous, it never has been,