News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-03-15

mission and Omission-"We Have
Lost Influence Because We Have
Been Brave In Words and IrresoIute
In Action"
In his address as temporary chair
man of the New York state Republican
convention, delivered in Carnegie Hall,
New York. the Hon. Elihu Root said:
We are entering upon a contest for
the election of president and the con-
troll of government under conditions
essentially new in the experience of
our party and of our country The
forms and methods which we are
about to follow are old and familiar,
but the grounds for action, the demand
of great events for decision upon ma
tional conduct, the moral forces urg-
ing TO a solution of vaguely Outlin-
ed questions, the tremendous con-
sequences of wisdom or folly in nation
al policy, all these are new to the great
mass of American voters now living.
Never since 1864 has an election been
national life. All the ordinary consid-
erations which play so great part in
our presidential campaigns are and
ought to be dwarfed into insignificance.
Democratic Party to the Bar.
For the first time in twenty years we
enter the field as the party of opposi-
ton, and indeed it is a much longer
time for in 1896 in all respects save
the tariff, the real opposition to the
sturdy and patriotic course of Presi-
dent Cleveland was to be found in the
party that followed Mr.. Bryan. 1t is
our duty as the opposition to bring the
Democratic party to the bar of public
judgment. to put it upon its defense
so far as we see just and substantial
grounds to criticiSe it's conduct and to
ask the voters of the country to decide
whether that party, organized as it is,
represented as it has been since it
came into power, has shown itself
competent to govern the country as it
should be governed and whether it's
spirit, its policies. and its performance
are the best that the American people
can do in the way of popular self gov
eminent.
In the field of domestic affairs some
facts relevant to these questions had
already been ascertained when in Au-
gust, 1914, the great European war
began. During the year and half of
Democratic control of government in |
a period of profound peace there had |
been a steady decrease in American |
production, in exports and in revenues
and steady increase in imports and !
expenditures. Enterprise had halted. |
The Democratic tariff had been framed
upon an avowed reputation of all pro-
lection, however moderate and reason
able, and because all protection was
repudiated practically all information
from competent witnesses as to the eff
feet new provisions would have upon
business was rejected. 1t was with
just cause that the enterprise of the
country halted, timid and irresolute.
because it felt and feared the hostility
of government
Foreign Competition After War.
The great war has not changed the
lesson which we had already learned
when it began. 1t has but obscured
further demonstration. 1t has caused
Rn enormous demand for some things
which the United States is able to pro-
duce in large quantities, and in these
lines of production, while other indus
tries still languish, there have been ex-
tensive employment of labor, great eX-
ports and a great influx of money.
But this is temporary 1t must soon
cease, and when the factories have
stopped and their laborers are no
.onger employed we must deal with a
situation for which wise forethought
should make provision More impor-
fant still, the war has paralyzed the
peaceful industries of all Europe and
has stopped that competitive foreign
production which in July, 1914, had al
ready entered American markets to
American products under
the tariff law of 1913. The war has
thus given to American products an
from competition far more
effective than any possible protective
|
when the war is over, when foreign
production begins again, the American
market compared with impoverished
Europe will be more than ever before
ihe object of desire and effort, and we
lhall become the dumping ground of
The world to the destruction of our
,wn industries unless that is prevented
by wise and competent government
How Can Ne Defend Ourselves?
But it is not from domestic ques-
lions that the most difficult problems
f this day arise. The events of the
bst few years have taught us many
essons. We have learned that civiliza-
don is but a veneer thinly covering the
,avage nature of man. How can this
nation. which loves peace and intends
Justice. avoid the curse of militarism
md at the same time preserve Its in
defend its territory. pro-
tect the lives and liberty and proper
lv of its citizens? How can we pre-
rent the same principles of action, the