The Washington herald., 1916-08-02
Mr.. Hughes, Speech.

most comprehensive and effective arraignmen
of his administration that has been delivered
1t is to be assumed that he will give to tht
task his most studious attention as at the pres
ent time the whole campaign seems to hinge
upon his reply to Mr.. Hughes. Mr.. Wilson:
speech will be awaited with more eagernes
than any address he has delivered since enter
ing the White House.
When Mr.. Hughes delivered his 8,ooo-worc
address of acceptance he did not waste word
for the speech was worthy of him both from
the standpoint of his reputation speaker
and master of language and as the politician
who has been chosen by the Republicans to fac,
a strong opponent. The speech carried tn.
same sterling note that was characteristic o
the notable statement which Mr.. Hughes ISSUED
a few hours after his nomination by the Chi
cago convention
. The nominee has laid. strong foundation
for his campaign and in the addresses he is tc
deliver throughout the country he may be ex
pected to take up the various issues, dssec
them, elaborate upon their ramihcations anc
drive home his arguments with the force o
which he has shown himself capable
Mr.. Hughes has singled out for his chief at
tack the administration policies in Europe ant
Mexico. There are many who believe that h,
has chosen the weakest point of attack Blu
others say: Granting that Mr.. Wilson's cours,
has been weak vacillating and dangerous, wha
would you have done, Mr.. Hughes, had yo,
been in the White House?" Perhaps Mr.
Hughes will not say what he would have done
1t matters little what he would have done, now
for the question seems to be: What will vol
do?"
The American people may use Presiden
Wilson's policy toward Germany and Mexico
IN the two years of peril just ended to judge
what his future actions will be in handling tn,
problems that the wars in Europe and below
the border have furnished. "He has kept u
out Of war" is the Democratic cry Are tn,
American people willing to re-elect Mr.. Wilson
as reward for keeping them out of war or dc
they want to elect Mr.. Hughes because the,
fear that Mr.. Wilson's course ultimately will
lead to war?
Comparative quiet exists along the borde
and Germany has ceased numbering our cti
zens at There is no Mexican or German
crisis, but tomorrow this nation may face thu
most perilous situation it has encountered since
Mr.. Wilson became President Daily we hea
reports that Germany is preparing to resum,
her C-boat and the danger along the Dor
der is considered grave by Mr.. Wilson tha
he is keeping nearly all of our armed lane
forces there.
/
alive to the horrors Of war than ever before
perhaps have good reason to be more interested
in knowing what Mr.. Hughes will do than ir
what he would have done. That there is strong
political effect in asking Mr.. Hughes what hs
would have done and getting no reply hardl,
can be denied, but the coming election will no
be determined upon such an obviously trivia
thing
In Mr.. Hughes speech of acceptance ha.
been found general answers to the question
What will you do?" 1t is true that he did no
outline the policies he proposes to pursue a.
specifically as some expected But though h,
tailed to 60 into the specific details Of the poll
cies he would adopt there can be but littl,
doubt of his meaning in these statements:
Mexico-"We shall have to adopt a new pol
icy, policy of frmness and consistency"
Germany-"It is great mistake to say tina
resoluteness in protecting American right.
would have led to war. Rather, in that course
lay the best assurances of peace"
Mr.. Hughes could not have gone much be-
yond these statements International problem.
change too quickly to permit of the laying
down today of definite plan of procedure fol-
execution next year. That is why Mr. Hughes
faces a difficult task in convincing that he is
capable of directing the government in a man.
rer that will be more American than the ad
ministration of Mr.. Wilson
But Mr.. Hughes perhaps faces a more diff
cult task in seeking to show that the pros
per1ty OF the nation is a temporary prosperity
that will be dissipated by peace in Europe II
IS hard to convince with his pockets full
of money and his bank account growing daily
that he is facing hard, lean days. Money
breeds optimism and confidence and Mr.
Hughes may find it hard to shake the financial
optimism and confidence that has enveloped
the nation.
But he has strong arguments and no one
will deny that he knows how to use them He
is off with a strong start in his speech of &C
ceptance and there is nothing to indicate that
he will slacken his pace His attack will hold
the center of the stage until Mr. Wilson makes
reply. The nation awaits that reply with much
eagerness. By it the nation will be better able
to judge the speech of Mr. Hughes
1t is seldom that man shows many pc
culiarites as when dispensing charity. To most