South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-24
Hughes Counseled
To Profit BY Tone
OfFairbanks ak

The New York World counsels Mr..
Hughes 10 profit by the tone of a
speech in which Mr.. Fairbanks in
1913 advised the people TO back up
the presidents Mexican policy.
About one minute after ne had
thrown off the robe os the greatest
Of judicial offices. Mr. Hughes sub
scribed his name TO this statement:
1T is regretta bly, true that in our
foreign relations we have suffered
intellectually from the weak and va
cilliating course which has been
taken with regard 20 Mexico
course lamentably wrong with re-
gard TO both our rights and duties. "
If this utterance was not an mex
cusable incident 10 war upon a weak
nation at a time when the admins
tration was facing many provocations
south of the Rio Grande. it was an
exhibition of reckless partisanship
which happily has few parallels in
tho history of the country.
For sixty years some Americans
have been in favor of invading. con-
quering and annexing Mexico. but
they have been found in the ranks
of our get-rich-quick filibusters and
LIMOGES and not among the justices
OF the supreme court OF the United
States.
Practically every disinterested
American for two generations has
approved in compassion the policy
first announced by Abraham Lincoln.
which Mr. Hughes in haste and Bit
terness denounces as weak and va
cillating and lamentably wrong.
Small Policies Out of Place.
Citing a notable case in proof of
this. The World on Sunday repub-
lished an address by Charles w.
Fairbanks TO the Editorial associa-
ton of Indiana in 1913, in which he
said
Pres't Wilson in dealing with 1t
(the Mexican situation) as best he
can. We may not entirely agree that
his course is better than that of his
distinguished predecessor, neverthe-
less we should endeavor 10 uphold
his hands. There should be no diff
ference of opinion as 10 that. BY do
ing so we shall make his task a com
paratively easy one.
IT is not an hour for either little
politics or sensational journalism.
The clamOr Of the jingos should not
be allowed 10 drown the voice of ra-
tional deliberate statesmanship.
1t is a pretty safe rule, when we
come TO deal with grave international
problems, TO put our faith in the
president of the United States and
follow where he may lead. He speaks
for the country when we come To
deal with international affairs The
president of the United states is a
safer guide than sensationalists and /
the soldiers of fortune who come TO
the surface whenever international |
controversies arise"
Instructs Mr.. Hughes.
Mr.. Fairbanks is today associated !
with Mr.. Hughes as the republican !
candidate for vice president He has
been active in politics for more than |
twenty-five years and nobody has |
ever questioned his robust partyism |
A lawyer, he has had no experience |
as a Judge. and so he has not been |
accustomed TO divest himself of par
tisanship. Yet he is able 10 instruct |
Mr.. Hughes on a point of personal |
fairness and public deCency.
The presidential campaign is GER !
tain to be conducted on a high plane |
unless Mr.. Hughes shall otherwise |
elect. There will ne no war with a |
distracted and impoverished neigh |
Dor unless passion and folly shall so |
decree.
If MIR. Hughes persists in the err
ror of his telegram of acceptance and |
ignores the patriotic counsels of Mr. |
Fairbanks and the example OF Abra- |
ham Lincoln, we regret 10 say that |
the passion and folly are likely 10 |
be on this side of the border