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

troit speech regarding the administra-
tons Mexican policy.
1T had no right" he said, ito commit
this country to a course Of conduct which
landed Mexico in anarchy, left our citl.
zens a prey to the ravages Of revolution
and made our name a word of contempt
in sister republic"
I'VE have gone forward" the nominee
said in speaking of the administration,
Mexican policy, with a determination tC
be destructive, not constructive; to de.
stroy all they had"
As to the administrations foreign poll
cy Mr.. Hughes said:
1--WE have allowed our words to tighten
up by hesitation and delay. We have
somehow or other convinced the world
that our talk is cheap.
Il propose that We have a new birth
Of American purpose and courage. We
have no occasion to fear war in the as
sertion Of those rights, which all rec
ognize and respect US for maintaining.
If we are glib in speech. If we indi-
cate that we are not ready to meet the
full responsibility that our words i'm
ply, we are pushed ), little further ard
q little further. until some fine day
events occur which arouse an implac-
able resentment from one end Of the
country to the other. That is the dan
ger Of war.
This administration has come near
err to landing us in war by it's weak
ness than it would ever have come had
it stood faithfully for American rights
and had let it be known that they
would be defended.
II believe that with our peaceful
purposes, our just purposes, we have
no occasion to be drawn into strife,
if we are prepared. if we are digni-
fed. if We show that We mean what we
say. And l desires that as we look to
the future we shall have American cit
izenship the proudest title in the
world. American administration as eff
ficient as any in the world and Ameri-
can honor the cherished thought Of
every American citizen"
Mr.. Hughes spoke for nearly an
hour. He entered a hall that was so
damned that even the steel cross
girders were used for seats. The audi
ence cheered him for five minutes be-
fore he spoke. A brass band. perched
in a loft at the far end Of the hall
played three stanzas Of THE Star
Spangled Banner" during the demon
stration, but the music was lost in the
volume Of other sound.
Summons to Obligation
Mr.. Hughes began his peech as follows:
Il come to this hall with peculiar emo
lions. Here, a little less than two
months ago, the Republican national
convention nominated for the office of
sought that nomination; did not desire
that nomination; I was contented with
my work and looked forward to the full
filling Of the allotted period Of life in work
that was congenial and of the highest
Importance to the American people. Tut
when that call came it did not admit of
an instants hesitation. 1t meant but one
thing: A summons to an obvious ogliga-
ton; and as I was, while on the bench,
100 per cent. a judge, 1 then became 100
per cent. a candidate.
IT desired, if the American people so
willed, to dedicate myself to the cause of
American government, not for partisan
expediency, not for friends, not for pres
people solely.
II hold the high partisan expediency
to be an administration of capacity for
service to the country.
Words or Deeds
1T anything in this campaign is real.
It is that we are now facing the question
whether we want words or whether we
want deeds; whether we want that which
Is written and spoken or whether we
want American action in the interests of
the American people. worthy of the
American name, maintaining the Ameri-
can honor, and buttressing the prosperity
Of the United States
Speaking of the need Of a business
like administration, the nominee said:
I'VE have today no examination in
a proper way Of the demands upon the
government. I am glad that the Repub-
lican platform put forth a keynote
when it demanded a business-like re-
spcnsible budget: and II am elected
President. propose to see so far as
executive authority will permit that
we get rid Of this travesty Of admins
tration and have a business-like bud
get by which we can understand what
we ought to pay what our comparative
needs are, what our income is to sat-
isfy them and by which the RESPONSE
BILE administration can be secured. I
am a lawyer, but I have grown up
alongside Of business men. and have
respect for facts. do not want any hot
air in mine.
II have no respect for the idea that
because Democratic government Is q
government Of the people, by the peo-
pie and for the people it is a govern
ment Of the foolish, for the foolish and
by the foolish"
On Mexican Affairs
Discussing Mexican affairs. he said:
"Our friends on the other side are
very sensitive about Mexico They say,
why. that is all past. Isn't that all
past?' No, the worst Of it is that 1t is
all past and that we cannot get at it,
but that record is an imperishable rec
ord Of weakness and vaciliation that