New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-22
A CANDIDATE WITHOUT AN ISSUE


To the EDITOR or The 1ribunc.
Sir: The Elder Statesmen otherwise
known as the "Old Guard") OF the Repubi
can party are still trying to figure out what
happened on the 9TH day OF November 1916,
and how and why IL happened. But IL needs
no elaborate post-mortem examination TO de-
terminc the cause of that disastrous defeat
which our Presidential candidate still hest
tates to acknowledge. II was not the rem
nant of the Progressive party. II was not
the women's vote. II was not the farmers
vote. II was not the mythical hyphen vote.
The real cause Of our defeat is TO be
found in the fact that we had no live issue
upon which to go before the country. Our
Republican leaders missed the grand oppor-
tunity to create the issue of true American
ism and patriotism and national honor, as
involved in the protection of the lives,
rather than the mere property rights, of our
own citizens, and also of maintaining the
cause OF humanity and civilization and the
rights of neutrals under international law.
At the time of the invasion of Belgium and
the massacre Of its citizens, and also at the
time OF the subsequent vandalism shown IN
the brutal and unnecessary destruction OF
cathedrals and works of art, no word of pro-
test was heard. Then came the browning
act OF infamy in the pratical murder of in
nocent non-combatants, including women and
children and babes, upon the high seas, with
out warning or opportunity TO escape, when
the Lusitania was torpedoed by German
submarine
If the Republican leaders had promptly
denounced these outrsges, instead OF cater
ing to the German vote By supporting reso-
lutions offered by Democrats in Congress,
warning American citizens from embarking
upon British passenger ships, and if they
had offered resolutions denouncing the man
ner in which Germany conducting the
war, contrary TO all rules of international
law and also in violation of her treaty with
and the other nations, we would have
been able to 90 before the people with a dis
tinct, definite issue, and then with candi
date of courage and conviction who had red
blood in his veins, such as Col. Roosevelt,
we could have swept the country, North and
South, East and West But we were tied
hand and foot by our own record.
The Democratic campaign book falsely as
serted that President Wilson had compelled
Germany to "disavow" the Lusitania atroc-
ity. OF course, every intelligent man knows
that Germany has persstently refused to
dsavow that murderous act but has tried
to justify her conduct on the ground of
"reprsal." Some eighteen months have
elapsed, but we are still without the "dis-
avowal," and Germany still pursues her
ruthless submarine operations, contrary to
the rules of war.
Meanwhile, our Democratic Administration
has been much more vigorous in protesting
to Great Britain against its blockade" and
"black list" and "orders in council" and
Censorship" which at most affect only the
property rights and not the lives Of our citi-
zens. No wopder that the reproach is heard
that we worship only the almighty dollar"
and that as a money seeking, pleasure low
ing nation, we care more for our pocketbook
than we do for national honor
1t seems to be almost ironics that the
Administration at Washington, which refused
to lift its voice in diplomatic remonstrance
against the invasion of Belgium and Serbia,
and which refused to receive the delegation
Of Belgians or to consider their proofs OF
unprintable outrages committed by Ger
many, and which declared itself as "too
proud to fight" and that eve are not con-
cerned with the causes or conduct Of the
war, ana tndt cautioned dll our CITIZENS 10
remain neutral in thought as we'll as in
word and deed" should suddenly awake to
realization that Germany is now violating
international law and the principles of HUI
mainly and civilization by enslaving and de-
porting thousands of Belgian non-comba-
tants ard driving them ruthlessly from their
native land.
Our present protest comes too late to have
any effect. No wonder that America has not
a single friend among the nations of Europe.
We have deliberately forfeited their respect
and good will, and they despise US as cow
ardly buffers who dare not make good our
threat to "hold to a strict accountability"
etc. Now is the opportunity for the Re-
publican party to purge itself of all sordid
and to make it's stand firmly
and squarely upon platform OF true Amer
icanism and national honor, which is its only
hope for success In the future.
GILBERT RAY HAYES.
Now York Nov % 1914