Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-03-15

unfortunate In a crisis to have q man
wanting in decision and courage, want
ing in the genius for responsibility
i believe, Mr.. president, Furthermore,
! that IL at the beginning of our diff
Guilty with Mexico under the former
administration when our citizens were
murdered, instead Of compromising or
hcsitating, or as If almost apologizing,
we had said that we wanted no trouble
with Mexico, but one thing was be-
yond dispute. that the American re-
public. true to its ancient traditions,
would protect American rights when
ever interrupted; that instead of hav-
ing 300 Americans murdered in Mexico.
the difficulty would have been greatly
lessened If not wholly avoided so far
as American rights were or are in
yolved. That policy was continued
under this administration
When Cleveland Stood Firm.
In 1887 a lieutenant from the Mex
lean army pursued Mexican girl
across the border into the United
States. seized her and dragged her
back across the line. The great Demo-
erat, Grover Cleveland, was then pres
ident of the United States. She was
a Mexican girl, but she was on Aemr-
lean territory, and he sent the army
to the border with instructions that
they should go, II necessary, to the City
Of Mexico to seize the man who had
violated the integrity of American ter
rtory The result of 1t was that this
lieutenant was given over at once and
was incarcerated in the penitentiary
for 20 years
That decisive act upon the part Of
that great Democrat established order
upon the border OF Mexico for dee
ade to follow That was something
the Mexican could understand. He had
no trouble comprehending the sturdy
Americanism of Grover Cleveland.
Decision, firmness In upholding your
rights under all circumstances will be
respected by all the nations of the
earth. I say. therefore. I am ready
and willing for the American republic
to go on record to the effect that
Americans have the right to travel
upon merchant ships armed for de-
fensive purposes, and that the nation
which challenges that right or violates
It Will be held to a strict accountable
ity. But ! was not permitted TO dol
80 or in any intelligent way to SO re-
cord myself
= am always made to doubt the
cause In which / am engaged when
those around me and with me are nm.
willing to debate IT, I think the most
manifest evidence Of a great and right
eous cause is the willingness or deter
mination Of those who are ADVOCATING
1t to state their reasons and their views
and their convictions to the world and
let the white light Of public opinion |
test their integrity.
I am made to doubt cause which !
must be decided in secret, or if not |
decided in secret, decided by some ul-
terror power without the chambers of |
this great senate and here driven /
through as we would drive through a /
resolution in a political /
precinct committee. 1t casts reflection /
upon our position, Il enshrouds our
cause in doubt when. having been chai- /
ienged to speak, in craven silence we /
record our vote and sink |
away.
Declares Senate Was 9Gsrmanized.s
Il was not permitted to vote upon !
the question. We denounce Germany 1
because we do not like her system Of H
government. we say. and her militar-
ism. We are told that in that marvel II
Gus nation all power, ali action pro-
eeeds from the royal nod. The great II
senate OF the United States. the pride
Of Hamilton, the creation OF the best
thought and the best conception of the
fathers, was Germanized TODAY. We III
took precisely the same attitude and II
the same instruction ana 4
reached the same results BY the same
method and process as the higheSt
legislative body OF Germany reaches
when the kaiser directs action from
me throne. There WAS no free, open
discussion. There was fear. there vas II
iubserYiency, there was shrinking from H
luty.
suppose. instead of the president II
laying as he did say in his letter to II
Mr. Pou that there may be afforded
m Immediate opportunity for fun pub II
&c discussion. he had advised the i
out Of some scheme 10 cut OFF
he expression OF view, that 1 nlan
hould be devised to the effect that one
nan was to get the floor and the next Il
nan Was TO get the man who got the HI
f1NA 1917 49, VII Ell 0EnaAFf ana Take fti
vote upon this important question II
order that he might have the view H
+ the senate Of the United states.
suppose he had set out that propo-
ition IN his letter TO Mr.. pou. What
fonld have been the response coming
rom every part OF the country It'll
fould have been denounced and the
would haze been So
ieree and beaten 50 constantly upon
he White House that there would