The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-18

WHY9
Under the above caption. The Out
look. ON whose editorial star II Colonel
Roosevelt. win print in its issue Of June
20, q most significant editorial II
stamps the Democratic administration
as q failure because 1t does not believe
in q strong government. and suggests
that the American people have the OPP
portunity in the fall to elect . house OF
Representatives which believes In
stronr government. The editorial fol-
lows:
Business is disorganized. New enter
prises arc not begun; old enterprises
are curtailing their business; willing
workers are laid on; every morning
newspaper reports the cry OF the un-
employed; dividends are reduced or
passed altogether. The crops are prom
istng: conditions demand prosperity
But business is not good; prosperity 10
conspicuously absent
Why?
Mexico does not want war; the Unit
ed States does not want war; and yet
we are in a state of restrained war
with Mexico. American property has
been looted; scores Of American citi-
Gems have been killed. The American
flag has furnished NO protection; for
protection Americans have fled to the
English or German flags. The hostil-
ity OF the Nexicans to the United
States is increased: their respect for
the courage and efficiency of the
United States Is diminished. That our
relations with England. Germany and
Spain are not more seriously strained is
due to their unparalleled patience. That
we are not .embroiled in actual warfare
with Mexico Is due to the kindly offices
Of our South American neighbors. No
one wants war, and yet we are on the
edge of war.
Why?
We had the responsibilities and duties
Of sovereignty thrust upon us in the
We have fulfilled those re-
sponsibilities and performed those
duties with notable success. We have
law for anarchy. and do
nestle government partially represent
alive for foreign government wholly
despotic. We have subdued hostile
tribes, made life and property safe.
banished epidemics, established a pub
lie school system, built good roads. pro-
NOTED commerce and industry. and fur
nished protection to a helpless people
from foreign aggression. 1t is now pro-
posed to acknowledge ourselves unable
to continue that protection without aid.
and to invite Japan and Great Britain
to share with US in furnishing it; to
abandon the attempt to protect the
peaceful citizens from the ignorance of
the many and the misgovernment of
the few, and to leave this people un-
aided to struggle their way as best
they can from childhood to maturity.
Why?
The answer is simple. This Demo-
cratic administration does not believe
in a strong government. 1t is afraid
Of a strong government. 1t fears that
the strong government will be a des-
that peril in weakness.
It confronts great industrial organi-
cations. It does not believe in making
the government strong enough to regu-
ulate such 1rga nizations and compel
hem to deal justly with the people.
It therefore endeavors to disorganize
these business organizations and con-
vert each one Of them into two or more
competing rivals. Business is disor-
yanized because it is the avowed policy
II the present Democratic administra-
ton to disorganize business.
Mexico is torn by conflicting factions
neither of which recognize the neces-
sary conditions of peace or the modern
avs Of war. This Democratic admin
does not believe in maintain
ng government strong enough to say
70 both factions: The laws of war to-
ward non-combatants must and shall
be obeyed. So it looks on appalled, but
inert while bandits plumber and assas-
sins murder. 1t will persuade, but not
enforce; 1t will intermeddle, but not
intervene.
1t looks across the ocean and sees
an island people under the protection
Of the American flag. learning under
American tuition the lesson of self-gov-
eminent. But it does not believe he
United States government is or should
be strong enough to protect and in
struct people on the other side Of the
globe. 1t believes that this nation
neither has nor ought to have the
power to complete the task 1t has be-
gun. 1t therefore proposes that the
United States enter into one of those
alliances with foreign ma
lions against which Washington
warned his countrymen. pay for this
alliance by disavowing the right of the
United States to control the canal built
by the money of the United States
through the territory of the United
States. and then pull down our flag in
the Philippines and retire, with con-
tession of our weakness, from our I'M
undertaking.
1t is sometimes said that 1t makes