The Detroit times., 1916-08-15
G.. o. p. MINUS BIG
ISSUE, FIGHT
TO BE LISTLESS
CONTINUED from Page oneD

paign Of the Issue Of extreme mill
tary preparedness against extreme
paoihcism, the prospects for any
thing c/en approaching lively
campaign went gilmmering
The ctd truth Is that the Repub-
Leans ate in the most unenyIable
OF political positions. They must
make an offensive fight without any
real issue This "a not a partisan
statement Il IS not made for any
other purpose than to attempt 20
present TO open.minded readers OF
Independent newspapers, correct
Interpretation of The political situU
ton as il exists
IN proof " tho fact that this IS
fair Interpretation. the Republican
platform and Candidates Hughes
speeches up to This ,ime are offered
a. exhibits
Take the platform and compare Il
with the Democratic platform What
issue is raised in it That Is worth
while lighting about in "A national
campaign II is composed almost
entirely OF criticism. some general.
some specific. OF the Wilson admin.
istration In not one paragraph
does it tell the country what the Re
pubIicans would have done had they
been in power or what they propose
TO do in given circumstances, IL
they get into power.
President Wilson has sacrificed
the honor Of the nation in his deal
ings with European powers and
MeNco.' is the chief complaint.
This Is the key upon which the
Republican convention evidently in
tended to pitch the campaign
against President Wilson. Undoubt
eddy this is Candidate Hughes IN
depreciation of the will of his party
Judging by his speech OF acceptance
and his later speeches
The obvious counter TO this seri.
Gus charge by party and candidate
Is: IF you had been in power
what would You have done TO have
saved our honor"
Would you have declared wa
against Germany after the Lust
tan!a outrage"
Would you have declared war
against Turkey. after the slaughter
OF Armenians and the mistreatment
of missionaries ?'
Would you have declared war
against England and France for in.
reference with our ships and
mails ."
Would YOU have declared war
against Mexico. after this. hat or
the other tragic occurrence IN that
country and, if SO. after which one?'
What recourse, excepting war,
has been open 10 the American PEG.
pie, to save the honor which you
say, but We deny, has been sacrl
ficed?"
These questions I'm varying forms,
have been hurled at the Republican
leaders in congress and at Candi-
date Hughes ever since the Chicago
convention. The only attempt that
has been made TO answer them was
made by Hughes in his speech OF
acceptance when he said that all OF
the crises that had occurred be-
tween this and foreign nations. dur
ing the past two years, were due 10
the fact that President Wilson had
put efficient Republicans out OF Of
flee; had put Inc tncient Democrats
In ONCE, and these inefficient Dem
ocrats had not been smart enough
to prevent crises from occurring.
Among the conspicuous examples
Of this substitution 90 Democratic
inefficlcncy for Republican EN-
cheney. cited Ivy Candidate Hughes,
was the French Enthusiastically. Ac.
onrdiug TO Hughes, Uerrick. in the
very midst of his efficient labors a.
Paris. was ruthlessly dragged away
from his job TO make room for q
Democrat.
just what crisis this particular
act by Wilson precipitated. Hughes
lid not say. But there Is no doubt
that there was considerable popular
reaction to the Ilorrick charge. TIL
reaction was short lived. however
as it developed that IIerrick Wa
kept on the lob IN Paris by Pres
dent Wilson for months after Uor
rick had asked 10 be relieved D..
finally was relieved and sharp put
on the job only after Herricb h
virtually insisted uuon il.
This Herrick incident Is not rl.
torred 10 in this correspondence lo.
the purpose of making q point lar
or against either Wilson or Husho
II is cited simply TO emphasll
the point that The Republicans a..
mighty shy of ISSUES. For certainly
no one will seriously contend thai
this is an issue. worthy of Oh.
name. in a national campaign
As the campaign opens s, look
as though 1t was going to take som
such form as this The Repuh'
ans will try TO make the voters Co.,.
the full sense OF their hamc
cause o. The loss OF national hon.
| and will promise to got 81 an back
I n IIurbpe ig plprfgd