New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-12
Americanism the Only Issue.

publican National Convention, said in a
speech in Chicago the other day that the
principal issue" Of the campaign of 1916
will be the tariff, closely intertwined with
preparedness and its problems" That IS
a delusion which no man put forward TO
speak for the Republican party ought to
harbor.
Issues are not created by keynoting ora
tors, but by situations. 1t is perfectly OBJ
vious that the tariff cannot be the prin-
cipal issue in this years Presidential cam
paign. The war has suspended the opera
ton Of the Underwood tariff law in so far
as that law was intended TO stimulate i'm
ports and 10 sharpen the competition In
our market between domestic producers
and foreign producers. So long as the
war lasts the United States will be amply
protected from European competition.
We can only speculate at present as to
the effect which the war will have on our
future economic relations with Europe.
But that effect, whatever it may be, is not
of immediate concern TO US. Moreover, 1t
shrinks into insignifcance compared with
the other stupendous effects which the war
has already had on American policy and
interests. The reverberations here Of Eu-
ropes struggle have shattered all our an
cient habits Of thought and changed over
night, as il were. the whole face of Ameri
can politics.
The war has forced one issue on US 10
which all other issues must give place
II is the issue Of Americanism-of Amer
canism finding itself and readjusting itself
TO new domestic and international condi-
tons. The single great question to be de-
cided by the voters this year is whether
or not we are to continue 10 muddle along
in the old haphazard and trustful way
without a Qualification Of our diplomacy
or an intelligent conception Of our inter
national interests, neglectful of the means
By which respect for our policies could be
enforced and depending for our security
on the exploded theory of our geographical
isolation.
The hard lessons Of the war have com
PEELED US to determine whether we arc
going TO become a real nation, united in
seeking common ends at home and abroad.
or are going TO remain in the old rut, con
tented and slothful, unintegrated and by
phenated. Is the United States ready, or
IS 1t still unready, TO face its future and
TO fit itself for recognition among the
great powers which are 70 share the
worlds leadership?
III L. - of
political illusions. We have confidently
assumed that we had the status of first
class power We have discovered how hol-
low that assumption was. Mr.. Wilson's
diplomacy has wrecked our international
prestige. not alone because that diplomacy
was weak and vicious in itself, but because
we had failed in the past to provide any
thing but moral backing for any Ameri-
can diplomacy.
Mr.. Wilson was more unfortunate than
many other Presidents because he was
compelled TO deal on large scale with
foreign problems and lacked absolutely
the guidance of foreign policy, either
his own or an inherited one. He has I'M
provised diplomacy to meet situations
as they arose and changed, and in each in
stance he has failed because the situations
were too serious TO be dealt with by
means Of happygo-lucky appropriations.
He undertook to speak as the special
champion Of international law and Of the
rights Of neutrals. without measuring the
meaning Of his words or the resources be-
trI 4rfad 20 Ia -
phrases do the work Of craftsmanship. lie
lost himself in maze Of contradictions in
his treatment Of Mexico. He negotiated a
treaty 20 supplant the Monroe Doctrine
with a Doctrine OF Pan-Americanism, and
az the same time he fouted the theories
Of the treaty by imposing American pro-
tectorates on Hayti and Nicaragua.
No attempt 20 push foreign relations
into the background in this campaign can
ever succeed. Il is Of the first Importance
In creating a real Americanism 10 build
Up an American foreign policy. To be
real nation in the modern sense the United
States must decide just what its aims are
In international politics In the next place
1t must provide the means with which 20
sustain its policies. We shall be creating
armies and navies in the dark unless We
\ know what use we intend 70 make Of them.
how ample our measures Of preparedness
should be depends on the Interpretation
which we expect 20 put upon the Monroe
Doctrine and the extent 70 which we arc
willing TO support that Interpretation by
force.
a settled and courageous foreign policy
and military preparedness with IFS cor.
ollary Of Industrial preparednes0 are the
TWO essential features Of any programme
for revival Of real Americanism. With
them Is associated the problem Of creating
rver national spirit As a people We