West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-07-06
Keeping the Peace and Safeguarding
American Rights


didate primarily rs the man who has
preserved the nations peace I'm a time
when war was revealing itself i'm a re-
voting character never before pre-
sented 10 mankind He has preserved
the peace ara Withal safeguarded
against the dangers &C Germany's sa-.
ly, iaw-3Ss Subma, inc operations the
lives OF those Americans who travel
on the high seas I'm the future. For a
year he relied upon negotiations TO
procure these safeguards, despite the
fact that in this period the Lusitania
was destroyed and other lawless dep
relations were committed by Ger
many which aroused a substantial ele-
ment OF the electorate To dissatisfac-
tion with that patient course. But at
the end he succeeded
At the end he achieved the purpose
which would have animated any other
President who had followed different
policy. Surely II need not be re-
stated that had any one OF those who
offered themselves as candidates
against Mr.. Wilson at Chicago been
President when Germany began her
Illegal submarine campaign. his chief
purpose would have been to procure a
permanent abatement OF that cam
paign. Mr. Wilson's policy has sue
ceeded. then. and his favor or disfavor
with the people must rest upon their
justification OF the means by which
this end was achieved Imputations
of weakness will not be permitted TO
obscure the fact that, faulty or not,
heroic" or not. his policy succeeded
with respect TO the principal wish OF
every patriotic American I'm the crisis
Il was evolved TO meet.
Maledictions against his "ignoble"
"vacillation" will not prevent an ap-
probation OF his ultimate attainment
when, TO borrow from convention
orator, the proudest spirit that ever
brooded over a battlefield had to bow
In acknowledgment OF the rectitude OF
the demands which our President
made In behalf OF his country and hui
manity."
Thus far the opposition to Mr.. VIII
son has avoided the obligation OF for
mulating an equivocal statement of
the faults they charge against him.
The, Republican platform makers limit
ed themselves to the easy task of de-
structive criticism. Such avoidance
cannot continue. however, for | am
sufficiently familiar with the cam
paign plans of the Presidents support
ers to know that they will force the
lighting with this clearly defined chal-
lenge.
They will not permit the opposition
to rest It's case upon mere assertions
OF Mr.. Wilson's shortcomings. 1t is a
parlous future which the country
faces. and the voters intend TO come as
nearly as they can to passing upon
fixed quantities, to choosing between
certainties as closely as certainties
can be approximated. Mr.. Wilson's
policy is expressed in acts and not in
generalities. His policy, II he is re-
turned to office, will not be different
from what it has been since August.
1914. He will insist that definite. not
general, pledges be pitted against 1t.
The other foreign policy OF Mr.. Will
son on which the country must pass is
his Mexican policy. He has dealt with
Mexico in the kindly spirit inspired by
the possession of superior power. He
has encouraged the development OF
constitutional government there, the
while that feeling of kinship among
all the nations of this hemisphere was
fostered. lie has endeavored to main
tain peace between that troubled coun-
try and the United States, knowing
well that a policy based upon the use
Of physical force always was accessi-
BILE as an effective last resort.-From
Wilson the Candidate" by l.. Ames
Brown. I'm the American Review of Re
views for July, 1916