Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-09
America First and Efficient.

America First ana eu1cto0Ss
A powerful arraignment Of the ad-
ministration; a faultless and dignined
presentation Of the argument for the
prosecution. Such was the speech Of
Charles Evans Hughes in which he
formally accepted the Republican
Presidential nomination. I'VE come to
state in a plain and direct manner our
faith, our purpose and our pledge" is
Mr.. Hughes opening remark. And
what follows is plain and direct. No
fiowery verbosity; no rhetorical curh-
cues requiring editorial interpretation;
no weasel words; but facts, plainly
put and striking home. Not only did
Mr.. Hughes expose the stick and straw
construction Of the Democratic party.
but he presented a plan for a noolss'
more stable structure. founded on "a
dominent sense of national unity" with
the Republican party. the agency OF
national achievement as the master
builder. and, we are confident, with Mr..
Hughes the guardian of the edifice.
Mr.. Hughes epitomized his desire for
American supremacy In a sentence
which will be the watchword OF his
party: america FIRST AND
AMERICA EFFICIENT" He then
outlined the duties of the Executive in
respect to our foreign relations and In
stanced how, at the very time when
most we needed the services Of trained
and experienced diplomats they were
recalled and the service demoralized by
the appointment Of tyros. whose sole
qualification was that they were de
serving Democrats.
AS was anticipated, tho Mexican pol
lev was Mr.. Hughes chief point OF at
tack. 1t is the administrators weak
est point. It is the perfect type Of a
yacillation and instability Of purpose,
exceeded never, equalled, perhaps, but
once in our history, and that was when
the stiffness of jefferson and Of Madi-
son eliminated in the War OF 1872.
There is not a red-blooded American
who can read the Hughes indictment OF
the administration in regard to Mexico
without blushing for the shame which
has been put upon this nation. Huerta,
recognized by Europe, was denied rec
oenition by us, and then an emissary
was sent to treat with him. We de-
manded a salute from him while deny
ing his leadership, and retired without
receiving it, leaving 10 Of our dead in
Vera Cruz. Denying that we were at
war with Mexico, our dead soldiers
were praised as having died in war
Of service. Later it was denied that we
went after the salute. It was explained
we went to Mexico to show them We
meant business. We labored to get
Huerta out of office while England and
Germany got our citizens in Mexico
out of peril On the arms and ammu-
milton embargo the administration
changed front five times. We advanced
the cause Of Villa, then turned on him
and recognized Carranza who had re-
fused to attend the conference called
by President Wilson, and who has
never pretended to be able to maintain
orderly government, American citizens
have been massacred and American
property destroyed, ana there is no re-
dress, notwithstanding the Democratic
platform declaration Of 1912 that the
constitutional rights of American citi-
zens should "go with them throughout
the world. What a sickening chapter!
In the matter Of preparedness, Mr..
Hughes showed that the Administra-
ton has followed, not led. Three times
has it changed front on its own pro-
gram, and after three years Of warning
the national guardsmen were called
from their peaceful occupations and
sent to the border without proper
equipment, without necessary supplies.
and without suitable conditions Of
transportation.
In his outline for national defense,
his proposal for an international tri-
bunal to settle disputes, his demand
for the safeguarding Of our economic
independence, South, East, North and
West, by means Of a protective tariff.
for the upbuilding Of our merchant
marine, and for fiscal reform, Mr..
Hughes shows a comprehension Of our
national needs and breadth Of states
manship which give the country serene
confidence in his constructive ability.
and which are in striking contrast with
the makeshift, anything to-catch-vote