Middletown transcript., 1916-08-05
HUGHES ACCEPTANCE

Mr.. HUGHES notlncation spec,
AVA on Monday evening in New 4orE
is an admirable presentation of the
issues before the voters in the coming
presidential election-plain, forceful
comprehensive, and at times eloquent
We quote as a sample of his clear-cu
style his definition of dominant Amerl
canism", with the Republican Party
giving it effective expression.
America conscious Of power,
awake to obligation; erect in self
respect; prepared for every emer-
gency; devoted to the ideals OF
peace; instinct with the spirit OF
human brotherhood; safeguarding
both individual opportunity and the
public interest; maintaining a we'll
ordered constitutional system m
adapted TO local self-government
without the sacrifice of essential
national authority; appreciating the
necessity of stability, expert know
ledge, and thorough organization as
the indispensable conditions OF Sc
curity and progress; country loved
by its citizens with patriotic fer
vor permitting no division in their
allegiance and no rivals in their af-
fection-I mean America first and
America efficient. 1t is in this
spirit that respond to your sum-
mons.
He gives a scathing review of the
endless blunders of the Wilson admins
tration in its foreign policies both
towards Germany and towards Mexico.
He charges and proves, that our
foreign diplomacy has been seriously
crippled at the dictates of party spoils;
that our prestige and influence have been
lowered, our national honor unmain-
tained. The administration dealings
with Mexico he styles ga confused
chapter of blunders''
"In the light of the conduct of the
Administration no one could under
stand its professions. Decrying in
reference, we interfered most ex-
asperatingIy. We have not even
kept out of actual conflict, and the
soil of Mexico is stained with the
blood of our soldiers. We have re-
sorted to physical invasion, only to
retire without gaining the prOfessed
object. 1t is record which cannot
be examined without a profound
sense of humiliation"
AS The Transcript has also done, Mr..
Hughes criticises Mr. Wilson's amazing
Mexican follies. His secret intrigues
wherein thru private agents of his own
like Lind, ct al. he meddled in the do
mestic affairs of that nation, taking
sides against the established govern
mentof Huerta, and finally, by allowing
only his enemies arms, overthrow his
rule He describes Mr.. Wilson's foolish
invasion of Mexico and capture of Vera
Cruz at the cost of 19 American ma
rines slain and over 100 Mexicans-the
bloody fasco ending in an equally alb
surd withdrawal with nothing gained !
He recounts Mr.. Wilson's inferfer-
ences in Mexican quarrels, first in favor
of his pet No. l, the bandit Villa, next,
in favor Of his pet No. 2, Carranza, a
treacherous rogue, worse yet than Villa
-''a vacillating and ineffective inter-
vention that was the height of folly
evoking only bitterness and contempt.
The utter failure of the administra-
ton to protect American life and
property in Mexico, and the border
states from murderous invasion, are
properly charged to its inexcusable
neglect.
He thus characterizes Mr.. Wilson's
feeble policy in the matter of the Ger
man sea assassinations:
"We have had a clear and definite
mission as great neutral nation. 1t
was for us to maintain the integrity
of international law; to vindicate our
rights as neutrals; to protect the
lives of our citizens, their property
and trade from wrongful acts Put
ting aside any question as to the
highest possibilities of moral leader
ship in the maintenance and vindica-
ton of the law of nations in con-
nection with the European war, at
least we were entitled to the safe
guarding of American rights. But
this has not been secured.
We have had brave words in a
series of notes, but despite our
protests the lives of Americans. have
been destroyed. What does it avail
to use some of the strongest words
known to diplomacy if AMBASSADORS
can receive the impression that the
words are not to be taken seriously?
1t. is not words, but the strength
and resolution behind the words, that
count.
Mr.. Hughes expresses the belief,
heretofore expressed in The Transcript,
that:
Had this Government, by the
.,rn nf hnth l. nfo,,.ool ~ eo....I-