Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-20
Republican Preparedness.

~AdHy $OtSIS Od6hoAS eAAN >O~~
try are wondering what the chief is
sues, aside from the tariff and a real
foreign policy. are to be in the next
national campaign. Leading political
tacticians of both parties are making
daily scouting expeditions into the
camps of the enemy. Republican
aeroplane surveys have discovered
vital weaknesses in the strongholds OF
the dug--in Democrats They are
massing umpty-ump centimer guns
and mercurial munitions where they
will do the most good when the in
eyitable engagement begins. A Phil
adelphic oracle, the Evening Ledger,
has picked five points of which there
can be but feeble defense, for attack.
1t says:
Never has the Republican party
been confronted with a greater task
or greater opportunity than st
present. 1t came into being as the
result of a great crisis. 1t will come
back into power as the result of
another crisis equally as great.
Our domestic concerns are being
relegated to relative unimportance in
comparison with the paramountcy of
national policies that affect our in
ternational interests. There is need.
ed strong party. pursuing definite
policy, to take command OF affair."
and steer the nation with practical
acuteness through the crucial period
which is already at hand.
There are five essential undertake
ings to which the party must dedi-
cate itself and for which it must
stand without equivocation and with
out hesitation.
First-A great navy commensurate
in strength with the wealth and
standing of this nation among other
nations.
Second-A constructive programme
for the quick rehabilitation of the
merchant marine, by subsidies if need
be, and the Strengthening of our trade
relations by comprehensive consular
and trade-expert service through
out the world, an important adjunct
to which shall be strong banking
system that will cover the CONNER
cial map.
Third-A strong foreign policy which
will assure the protection of Ameri
can citizens and interests wherever
situate.
Fourth-A protective tariff, scienti
fically constructed. which will assure
an American market for american
goods.
Fifth-A definite declaration that
success in business is a worthy. not
an unworthy. achievement: and that
as success in world trade requires
vast resources in capital, the forma-
ton of sufficiently strong corpora
discouraged, but will be distinctly en-
couraged by the United States.
OF these things the most important
by far is preparation for the national
defence. The country will not be
hoodwinked again by phrases such as
an adequate navy" 1t will require
an Interpretation of the meaning of
the phrase and insist on knowing just
how large a navy the promising party
intends to furnish.
All Europe is engaged in a CONNER
cial war. Our growing trade imperils
our friendly relations. What the
powers abroad are fighting for they
expect to get. They will regard us as
an interloper. We expect to keep
what we acquire and to reach out for
more. We do not wish to have loaded
pistols against our head wherever our
trade is great.
The destiny of the nation will be
determined by the policies it indorses
next year. The Republican party
must take up the fight, along the
definite lines proposed above, and
wiring victory from the hesitant chaos
into which the country has been
plunged by an undecided Administra-
ton.