Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-09-01
The People Wanted Honesty.

NV SSHio '" dnISo none8Sy,
Nevertheless 1 believe that the Ameri-
can people were ready for the same kind
OF appeal which was made to them by
Abraham Lincoln in 1860 by the advo-
Gates OF an honest currency in 1896, by
the advocates of the Spanish War in 1898.
by the advocates of Nationalism in 1900.
But the appeal was not made. On the
contrary. Mr.. Wilson invoked the spirit
of timidity and selfishness. He made no
effort to invoke the sense Of duty. He
put safety first" the immediate safety
of the moment to be obtained by shrink
ing from duty. He did not even put
American rights first, still less did he put
American duty first
His task was not an especially dificult
or dangerous task: but 1t needed a brave
heart and a steady hand. Under his lead
America could and should have put It.
self at the head Of all the neutral nations,
by its example If not by direct diplomatic
agreements, in demanding that the war
should be conducted in accordance with
the usage Of civilized nations, that inter-
national law should be observed that the
rights of neutrals and non-combatants
animated our administration there would
probably have been no invasion Of Bel
gium, no fears Of like fate to terrorize
other smaller nations, no torpedoing CT
merchant vessels, no bombarding CT
churches and hospitals. no massacring
Of women and children, no murder of
Miss Cavell, no attempted determination
Of the Armenians and Syrian Christians
We cannot undo what has been done
But we can repudiate what has been
DONE We can regain our own self-re-
spect and the respect Of other nations for
this country We can put in power an
administration which will throughout its
term Of power protect our own citizens
and live up to our national obligations.
1t is just that this nation should concern
itself with its rights; but 1t is even more
necessary that 1t should concern itself
with its duties. As between Mr.. Hughes
and Mr.. Wilson. who can doubt which is
the man who will with austere courage
stand for the national duty? Mr.. Will
sons words have contradicted one an
other; and all his words have been con-
tradicted by his acts. Mr. Wilson's prom
ise has not borne the slightest reference
to his performance. We have against
him in Mr.. Hughes a man whose public
life is a guarantee that whatever he says
he will make good, and that all his words
will be borne out by his deeds. Against
Mr.. Wilson'S combination Of grace in elo-
cution with futility in action: against his
record of words unbacked by deeds or be-
trayed by deeds, we set Mr.. Hughes
rugged and uncompromising straightfer-
wardness Of character and action in
every office he has held. We put the man
who thinks and speaks directly. and
whose words have always been made
good. against the man whose adroit and
facile elocuton is used to conceal his
plans or his want Of plans. The next four
wears may we'll be years Of tremendous
national strain. Which Of tho two men
do you, the American people, wish at the
helm during these four years; the man
who has been actually tried and found
wanting. or the man whose whole career
IN public ONCE IL . guarantee Of his pow
or and good faith? But one answer is
possible; and 1t must be given by the