he would have been free to pay her court, and to do those things which
oftentimes awaken a kindred feeling in another. But she was helpless. An
advancement from her would but lessen his regard, and make impossible
that which she most desired. She often wondered what there was between
Gloria and Dru. Was there an attachment, an understanding, or was it one
of those platonic friendships created by common interests and a common
purpose? She wished she knew. She was reasonably sure of Gloria. That
she loved Dru seemed to admit of little doubt. But what of him? Did he
love Gloria, or did his love encompass the earth, and was mankind ever
to be his wife and mistress? She wished she knew. How imperturbable he
was! Was he to live and die a fathomless mystery? If he could not be
hers, her generous heart plead for Gloria. She and Gloria often talked
of Dru. There was no fencing between these two. Open and enthusiastic
admiration of Philip each expressed, but there were no confidences which
revealed their hearts. Realizing that her love would never be
reciprocated, Janet misled Philip as to her real feelings. One day when
the three were together, she said, "Mr. Administrator, why don't you
marry? It would add enormously to your popularity and it would keep a
lot of us girls from being old maids." "How would it prevent your being
an old maid, Janet?" said Dru. "Please explain." "Why, there are a lot
of us that hope to have you call some afternoon, and ask us to be Mrs.
Dru, and it begins to look to me as if some of us would be disappointed."
Dru laughed and told her not to give up hope. And then he said more
seriously--"Some day when my work here is done, I shall take your advice
if I can find someone who will marry me." "If you wait too long, Philip,
you will be so old, no one will want you," said Janet. "I have a feeling,
Janet, that somewhere there is a woman who knows and will wait. If I am
wrong, then the future holds for me many bitter and unhappy hours." Dru
said this with such deep feeling that both Gloria and Janet were
surprised. And Janet wondered whether this was a message to some unknown
woman, or was it meant for Gloria? She wished she knew.
CHAPTER L
THE BROADENING OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE
In spite of repeated warnings from the United States, Mexico and the
Central American Republics had obstinately continued their old time
habit of revolutions without just cause, with the result that they
neither had stable governments within themselves, nor any hope of peace
with each other. One revolution followed another in quick succession,
until neither life nor property was safe. England, Germany and other
nations who had citizens and investments there had long protested to the
American Government, and Dru knew that one of the purposes of the
proposed coalition against the United States had been the assumption of
control themselves. Consequently, he took active and drastic steps to
bring order out of chaos. He had threatened many times to police these
countries, and he finally prepared to do so.
Other affairs of the Dru administration were running smoothly. The Army
was at a high standard of efficiency, and the country was fully ready
for the step when Dru sent one hundred thousand men to the Rio Grande,
and demanded that the American troops be permitted to cross over and
subdue the revolutionists and marauding bandits.
The answer was a coalition of all the opposing factions and the massing
of a large army of defense. The Central American Republics also joined
Mexico, and hurriedly sent troops north.
General Dru took personal command of the American forces, crossed the
Rio Grande at Laredo, and war was declared. There were a large number of
Mexican soldiers at Monterey, but they fell back in order to get in
touch with the main army below Saltillo.
General Dru marched steadily on, but before he came to Saltillo,
President Benevides, who commanded his own army, moved southward, in
order to give the Central American troops time to reach him. This was
accomplished about fifty miles north of the City of Mexico. The allies
had one hundred thousand men, and the American force numbered sixty
thousand, Dru having left forty thousand at Laredo, Monterey and
Saltillo.
The two armies confronted one another for five days, General Benevides
waiting for the Americans to attack, while General Dru was merely
resting his troops and preparing them for battle. In the meantime, he
requested a conference with the Mexican Commander, and the two met with
their staffs midway between the opposing armies.
General Dru urged an immediate surrender, and fully explained his plans
for occupation, so that it might be known that there was to be no
oppression. He pointed out that it had become no longer possible for
the United States to ignore the disorder that prevailed in Mexico and
those countries south of it, for if the United States had not taken
action, Europe would have done so. He expressed regret that a country
so favored by God should be so abused by man, for with peace, order and
a just administration of the government, Mexico and her sister
republics, he felt sure, would take a high place in the esteem of the
world. He also said that he had carefully investigated conditions, knew
where the trouble lay, and felt sure that the mass of people would
welcome a change from the unbearable existing conditions. The country
was then, and had been for centuries, wrongfully governed by a
bureaucracy, and he declared his belief that the Mexican people as a
whole believed that the Americans would give them a greater measure of
freedom and protection than they had ever known before.
Dru further told General Benevides that his army represented about all
there was of opposition to America's offer of order and liberty, and he
asked him to accept the inevitable, and not sacrifice the lives of the
brave men in both commands.
Benevides heard him with cold but polite silence.
"You do not understand us, Senor Dru, nor that which we represent. We
would rather die or be driven into exile than permit you to arrange our
internal affairs as you suggest. There are a few families who have
ruled Mexico since the first Spanish occupation, and we will not
relinquish our hold until compelled to do so. At times a Juarez or a
Diaz has attained to the Presidency, but we, the great families, have
been the power behind each administration. The peons and canaille that
you would educate and make our political equals, are now where they
rightfully belong, and your endeavors in their behalf are misplaced and
can have no result except disaster to them. Your great Lincoln
emancipated many millions of blacks, and they were afterwards given the
franchise and equal rights. But can they exercise that franchise, and
have they equal rights? You know they have not. You have placed them in
a worse position than they were before. You have opened a door of hope
that the laws of nature forbid them to enter. So it would be here. Your
theories and your high flown sentiment do you great credit, but,
illustrious Senor, read the pages of your own history, and do not try to
make the same mistake again. Many centuries ago the all knowing Christ
advised the plucking of the mote from thine own eye before attempting to
remove it from that of thy brother."
To this Dru replied: "Your criticism of us is only partly just. We
lifted the yoke from the black man's neck, but we went too fast in our
zeal for his welfare. However, we have taken him out of a boundless
swamp where under the old conditions he must have wandered for all time
without hope, and we have placed his feet upon firm ground, and are
leading him with helping hands along the road of opportunity.
"That, though, Mr. President, is only a part of our mission to you. Our
citizens and those of other countries have placed in your Republic vast
sums for its development, trusting to your treaty guarantees, and they
feel much concern over their inability to operate their properties, not
only to the advantage of your people, but to those to whom they belong.
We of Western Europe and the United States have our own theories as to
the functions of government, theories that perhaps you fail to
appreciate, but we feel we must not only observe them ourselves, but try
and persuade others to do likewise.
"One of these ideas is the maintenance of order, so that when our
hospitable neighbors visit us, they may feel as to their persons and
property, as safe as if they were at home.
"I am afraid our views are wide apart," concluded Dru, "and I say it
with deep regret, for I wish we might arrive at an understanding without
a clash at arms. I assure you that my visit to you is not selfish; it is
not to acquire territory or for the aggrandizement of either myself or
my country, but it is to do the work that we feel must be done, and
which you refuse to do."
"Senor Dru," answered Benevides, "it has been a pleasure to meet you and
discuss the ethics of government, but even were I willing to listen to
your proposals, my army and adherents would not, so there is nothing we
can do except to finish our argument upon the field of battle."
The interview was therefore fruitless, but Dru felt that he had done his
duty, and he prepared for the morrow's conflict with a less heavy heart.
CHAPTER LI
THE BATTLE OF LA TUNA
In the numbers engaged, in the duration and in the loss of life, the
battle of La Tuna was not important, but its effect upon Mexico and the
Central American Republics was epoch making.
The manner of attack was characteristic of Dru's methods. His interview
with General Benevides had ended at noon, and word soon ran through the
camp that peace negotiations had failed with the result that the army
was immediately on the alert and eager for action. Dru did not attempt
to stop the rumor that the engagement would occur at dawn the next day.
By dusk every man was in readiness, but they did not have to wait until
morning, for as soon as supper was eaten, to the surprise of everyone,
word came to make ready for action and march upon the enemy. Of Dru's
sixty thousand men, twenty thousand were cavalry, and these he sent to
attack the Mexican rear. They were ordered to move quietly so as to get
as near to the enemy as possible before being discovered.
Philip Dru: Administrator
by
Edward Mandell House
Part 4 out of 4
FullBooks.com homepage
Index of Philip Dru: Administrator
Previous part (3)
It was not long before the Mexican outposts heard the marching of men
and the rumble of gun carriages. This was reported to General Benevides
and he rode rapidly to his front. A general engagement at nightfall was
so unusual that he could not believe the movement meant anything more
than General Dru's intention to draw nearer, so that he could attack in
the morning at closer range.
It was a clear starlight night, and with the aid of his glasses he could
see the dark line coming steadily on. He was almost in a state of panic
when he realized that a general attack was intended. He rode back
through his lines giving orders in an excited and irregular way. There
was hurry and confusion everywhere, and he found it difficult to get his
soldiers to understand that a battle was imminent. Those in front were
looking with a feeling akin to awe at that solid dark line that was ever
coming nearer. The Mexicans soon began to fire from behind the
breastworks that had been hastily erected during the few days the armies
had been facing one another, but the shots went wild, doing but slight
damage in the American ranks. Then came the order from Dru to charge,
and with it came the Yankee yell. It was indeed no battle at all. By the
time the Americans reached the earthworks, the Mexicans were in flight,
and when the cavalry began charging the rear, the rout was completed.
In the battle of La Tuna, General Benevides proved himself worthy of his
lineage. No general could have done more to rally his troops, or have
been more indifferent to danger. He scorned to turn his back upon an
enemy, and while trying to rally his scattered forces, he was captured,
badly wounded.
Every attention worthy his position was shown the wounded man. Proud and
chivalrous as any of his race, he was deeply humiliated at the miserable
failure that had been made to repell the invaders of his country, though
keenly touched by the consideration and courtesy shown him by the
American General.
Dru made no spectacular entrance into the city, but remained outside and
sent one of his staff with a sufficient force to maintain order. In an
address announcing his intentions towards Mexico and her allies, Dru
said--"It is not our purpose to annex your country or any part of it,
nor shall we demand any indemnity as the result of victory further than
the payment of the actual cost of the war and the maintenance of the
American troops while order is being restored. But in the future, our
flag is to be your flag, and you are to be directly under the protection
of the United States. It is our purpose to give to your people the
benefits of the most enlightened educational system, so that they may
become fitted for the responsibilities of self-government. There will
also be an equitable plan worked out by which the land now owned by a
few will be owned by the many. In another generation, this beautiful
land will be teeming with an educated, prosperous and contented people,
who will regard the battlefield of La Tuna as the birthplace of their
redemption.
"Above all things, there shall not be thrust upon the Mexican people a
carpet-bag government. Citizens of Mexico are to enforce the
reconstructed constitution and laws, and maintain order with native
troops, although under the protecting arm of the United States.
"All custom duties are to be abolished excepting those uniform tariffs
that the nations of the world have agreed upon for revenue purposes, and
which in no way restrict the freedom of trade. It is our further purpose
