of impatient consumers whose wants had to be met at any
price.

Mexico, which had provided the most pressing problem in foreign affairs
during the Taft Administration, was still an unsolved problem in 1916,
and more disturbing than ever. The President had indeed avoided war
with Mexico, but had become involved in two invasions of the country
and in an expensive mobilization. During the 1916 election the nation
had in Mexico most of the drawbacks of war without any of the possible
benefits. In forcing out Huerta the President had indeed won a notable
diplomatic triumph, but he had not succeeded either in winning greater
security for American life and property or in getting a Mexican
Government more disposed to good relations with the United States; and
the Republicans maintained that war had been avoided only at the
sacrifice of both American prestige and American interests.

_Personal Messages to Congress_

I am very glad, indeed, to have this opportunity to address the two
Houses directly and to verify for myself the impression that the
President of the United States is a person, not a mere department
of the Government hailing Congress from some isolated island of
jealous power, sending messages, not speaking naturally and with
his own voice--that he is a human being trying to cooperate with
other human beings in a common service. After this pleasant
experience I shall feel quite normal in all our dealings with one
another.--_From the President's First Address to Congress, April
8, 1913_

[Illustration: (C) _Harris & Ewing_
April 8, 1913: Mr. Wilson reading his first message to
Congress]

But Mexico, despite the emphasis placed upon it by the Republicans, was
a secondary issue in the campaign of 1916. The great issue was the
conduct of American relations with Germany, and the ultimate Republican
failure in the election may be laid primarily to the inability of the
Republican Party to decide just where it stood on the main issue.

The President had in this field also won a diplomatic victory. Like his
victory over Huerta, it was more apparent than real, for the submarines
were still active, and even during the campaign several incidents
occurred which looked very much like violations of the German promise
made in May. The most serious incident, that of the Lusitania, was
still unsettled and the opponents of the President charged him wi