New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-14

10 inc IGitor OF nc rlbUnc.
Sir: The country was electrified when il
read the keynote" speech OF Senator Hard
ing, IN which he stated that the tariff would
afford the principal issue in the coming cam
paign. Special significance attached to his
address by reason Of the fact that he has
been selected TO act as temporary chairman
OF the next Republican National Convention
The Senator might, with almost equal pro
prety. have selected for some OF his para
mount" panks the vigorous prosecution Of
the Civil War. adequate pensions for Civil
War veterans. the resumption OF specie pay
mcnts and the maintenance OF the gold
standard. All Of these form an important
part Of the honorable record OF the Repub-
lican party. and adherence to a protective
tariff is cardinal tenet Of Republican faith
In fact, the attitude of the Republican party
IS so well known on this question that its
position is taken for granted without undue
EN- phasis.
In the coming campaign the protective
tariff will represent but one phase of
broad American policy Of adequate national
defence and the maintenance of American
prestige and respect among the whole family
Of nations.
Unfortunate as our experience has been
with the Underwood Simmons tariff law. its
defects pale into insignfcance when com
pared with the larger failures Of the Admin
istration. Intervention in Mexico to accom-
plish the downfall of the only authority ca
pabe Of maintaining a semblance OF law and
order. actual armed Intervention at Vera
Cruz to bring about salute to the flag. fol-
lowed by untimely withdrawal failure to
afford any protection to the lives OF Amer
leans on Mexican soil even failure to pro-
tect American soil from INVASION arc few
of the tissues" afforded by the Administra-
TONS Mexican policy.
The interminable exchange of notes with
European beligeren;s has not afforded
scrap of protection to American rights or
to American lives. 1t has failed to convince
any belligerent power of the sincerity of our
demands for redress or of our ability to pro-
tect American rights by might In fact. by
its vacilating and unstable attitude the Ad-
mnistration has wrecked our international
prestige and forfeited the wholesome respect
OF all the great powers so essential to com
ty and amcable relations among the family
of nations Even in our infancy as a ma
tion our honor stood far higher among the
nations than 1t does to-day.
The record of the Administration in fail
ing to organize any well ordered plan for
the national defence is equally culpable. 1t
will be remembered that President Wilson
in his annual message to Congress in De-
cember 19l4-after the Great War had been
in progress more than four months stated
that this Is no time" TO arouse the people
to prepare. A year later. after advocating
the Garrison plan in his annual message he
swung "round the circle" through the West
ern states. calling the people to prepare:
he returned to Washington. had delightful
interview" with Mr.. Hay. of Virginia, threw
the continental army" plan overheard, ac-
cepted the Federalized militia scheme and
Jettsoned Secretary Garrison and appointed
in his place sentimental pacifst At the
head Of the navy he has maintained the i'm
mortal Josephus possibly on account of his
nearncss to the Peerless One" possibly for
his penchant for discipining officers of the
navy who dare to speak the truth on ques-
tons Of naval preparedness.
All of these failures are fairly deserving
OF rank tissues" of the campaign. II the
Republican party does not offer clean cut
platform of antagonism 10 the Admnistra-
ton on these issues. it might as we'll in
dorse the Administration Of Mr. Wilson and
save itself the labor and expense of a siren
uous campaign. But tho nation looks to the
Republican party for dcliverance from all the
evils of Democratic msrulc. The Repub-
lcan party must give assurance OF strength
as opposed 10 weakness Of readiness as op-
posed to "watchful waiting" of stability as
opposed to vacilation, Of courage as opposed
10 LnidJlx.