The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-03-16

which belief in its readiness and will
TO maintain its rights would have Civ
| en- to its diplomatic representations.
When our government gave notice to
Germany that it would destroy Amer.
lean lives and American ships ut its
peril our words, which would have
been potent if sustained by adequate
preparation to make them good and by
the prestige and authority of the moral
| leadership of a great people in a great
cause, were treated with a contempt
which should have been foreseen. and
when our government failed to make
those words good its diplomacy was
bankrupt
Upon the record of performance
which have tried to describe will the
American people say that the Demo-
cratic party is entitled to be continued
in power?
The defects of the present admins
tratiOn arise from two distinct causes.
| The first is the temperament and train
| ing of the president. The second is the
| incapacity of the Democratic party as
it is represented in Washington both
in the legislative and in the executive
| departments either to originate wise
| policies or to follow them when pro-
| posed by others or to administer them
effectively if they are established. The
| Democrats in congress are never con-
| trolled except with a club. and gov
| ornment with a club is always spas
modic and defective.
We must not deceive ourselves by
assuming that the critical period aris-
| ing from the great war has passed.
| The real dangers and the real tests of
the strength of our institutions lie be-
fore us. The most eXacting demands
upon the wisdom. the spirit and the
courage of our country are still to be
made. In this great conflict all forms
| of government are on trial, democracy
with the rest. The principles of ma
| tional morality are on trial We must
| play our part in the universal trial
| whether we will or no, for upon the re-
suit depends directly the question
| whether our republic can endure.
What Are People to Expect?
But what are the people to expect If
| the Republican party is restored to
| power?
| This much we can say now:
They may expect, with confidence.
| that their government will meet the
| economic situation with which We
| must deal Immediately upon the close
| Of the war, with a policy of moderate
| but adequate protection to American
| industry.
They may expect that the govern
ment will be administered with the
! honesty and efficiency which have
marked Republican administrations in
| the past.
They may expect that the best posi-
| bic course for the preservation of
peace will be followed by foreign pol.
| icy which, with courtesy and friendli
ness to all nations, is frank and fear
| less and honest in its assertion of
| American rights
| They may expect that their govern
ment will stand for full and adequate
| preparation by the American people
for their own defense. The Republican
| party loves peace and hates war; X
| abhors and will never submit to mill
| tary domination; but it is composed of
| men who love our country and who
deem that the independence. the liber-
| ty, the honor and the opportunity of
| the American democracy are not mere
| ly to be talked about with weak and
| habby sentiment, but are to be main
| tanned and safeguarded by the prac-
| teal power Of virile and patriotic
| people. 1t IS ciearSiChted enough to
| see that preparation for defense must
have dine relation to the possibilities
| of attack: that under the conditions of
modern warfare much preparation
must be made before possible attack
or all preparation will be impossible
! after the attack. The Republican par
! ~ stands for citizenship made com
! pctent by training to perform the free
! mans duty Of defense for his country.
II stands FIR regular army no larger
! than is necessary but as large as is
| necessary to serve as Il first line. a
| nucleus. a source of instruction and of
| administration for the army of Ameri-
can citizens who may be called upon
to defend their country. And the Re-
! publican party stands for the gospel
| Of patriotic service to our countrr by
| every citizen. according to his ability
! in peace and in var. 1t stands for
| rcawakening Ct American patriotism.
| 1t is not content that while the people
of other lands are rendering the last
| full measure of devotion in sacrifice
and suffering and dying for their coun-
| tries America shall remain alone dull
to the call of country and satisfied in
the conf orts and pleasures of pros
| perity.
| Our Power For Peace.
They may expect that assured readi-
ness for defense will give power TO
our diplomacy in the maintenance of
| peace.
| They may expect that the power and
will of united people to defend their
country will prevent the application to
our peaceful and prosperous land of
the hateful doctrine that among ma
tons might makes right regardless of
| the rules of justice and humanity.
They may expect that the manifest.
| potential strength and competency of