The Washington times., 1916-08-01
MR.. HUGHES, ADDRESS OF AC.
CEPTANCE


! nomination for President makes
plain that the years Of his retire
ment from active political life have
not been years Of suspended interest
in public affairs. Rather, they have
been a period Of study, contempla-
ton. and remarkably clear thinking.
This address proves that Republic
cans and Progressives made no mis-
take in recalling Mr.. Hughes to ac-
tive leadership. He sets forth such an
analysis of Democratic administra-
tive performance as has seldom been
presented; a contrast between prom
| Use and accomplishment, between
pretense and motive, that cannot but
command the country's attention.
Mr.. Hughes acceptance speech
has been looked to for a campaign
keynote; and it is not disappointing.
He analyses the proceedings Of the
present Administration, in dealing
with Mexico, in a manner that must
make that issue the foremost one in
determining the national judgment
on the claims of the two parties. 1t
will be a Judgment on the hesitation,
vacillation, moods, and weaknesses
that have marked our conduct of re-
lations with Mexico.
For such a statement as he has
presented, it may we'll be doubted
if any other man in the country was
so we'll fitted as Mr.. Hughes. He
takes up the complex subject OF
Mexican internal affairs and
Mexican relations with the United
States, and unravels it into simple
understandable showing Of the facts
of successive errors, Of pretenses ex
posed, Of insincerities demonstrated
and even avowed.
We could send naval force ant
seize Vera Cruz, on pretense Of de
manding a salute-which we nevel
got-but we could not rescue Ameri
can citizens or protect American in
terests at Tampico. We could no
bring our delicate administrative
sensibilities to recognize Huerta a
head Of a de facto government tina
other nations accepted; but we coul'
find justification for dickering ant
dealing with Villa. "whose qualifica
tions as an assassin are indisput
able" We would not deal will
Huerta, yet the Government sen
John Lind on an unjustifiable ant
offensive mission to demand tina
Huerta eliminate himself. We sen
an inadequate force Of soldiery int
Mexico, between two parallel line
of railroad which we are not per
mitted to use, in a position Of grea
menace. We sent them there t
"get" Villa and stop brigandage. w
have accomplished neither end, we
; we have now set about withdrawing
the force, under demand from Car
rama. and are apparently about t
turn over to a commission the busi
ness of adjusting the relations O
). the two countries.
{ 1t is impossible to summarize Nj
| Hughes discussion of Mexico $
t effectively as to convey the flu
weight that it carries in Mr.. Hughes
, own words. 1t must be regarded a
more than an exposition of the Mex
can situation; it is really the con
plete and remorseless exposure {
8 the whole wavering, insecure, feal
6 full, and inefficient intellectu'
a process of this Administration.
q AS such an exposure, the discus
sion of Mexico is supplemented b
n the consideration that Mr.. Hught
gives to the Administrators col
: duct of European relations. Lon
i after the war started in Europe II
K country was assured that there ws
4 no occasion for concern about o,
state of preparedness. Then. aft
precious time had been lost, came
i feverish insistence that we prepar
Z A program was arranged by Seer
= tary Garrison, accepted, and the
4 cast overheard; and Mr.. Garrist
= chose to go overheard with it. D
i Gliding tardily that political e
Z igencies demanded huge naval pr
% gram, it has yet continued mon
E. mentally inefficient administrati'
is of naval affairs.
er Mr.. Hughes declares that prop
vigor in insisting upon absolute q
he countability for violation of Amel
if can rights would have prevented t
lie sacrifice of American lives on t
I'd Lusitania; and who seriously dout
/