The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-03-16

expression by the government Of the
United States, single sentence deny,
ing assent and recording disapprovaI
OF what Germany did IN Belgium.
would have given 10 the people Of
America that leadership 60 which they
were entitled IN their earnest cropping
for the light IL would have ranged
4 behind American leadership the con.
science and morality OF the neutral
/ world
IL was not 10 be, The American
government failed 10 rise 20 the de
mands OF the great occasion. Gone
were the old love OF justice, the old
passion for liberty, the old sympathy
with the oppressed, the old idenls Of
an America helping the world toward
better future, and there remained In
the eyes OF mankind only soicitude for
trade and profit and prosperity
Shrank From the Truth.
The American government could not
really have approved the treatment OF
Belgium. but under "A mistaken policy
II shrank from speaking the truth.
Such policies as have described arc
doubly dangerous in their effect upon
foreign nations and In their effect at
home, II Is a matter of universal ex.
perience that a weak and apprehcnsivc
treatment Of foreign affairs invites en-.
croachments upon rights and leads 20
situations I'm which IL IL difficult TO
prevent war, while n firm and frank
situations from arising and tends most
strongly TO preserve peace. On the
other hand. If government Is to he
strong In It's diplomacy It's own peo-
pie must be ranged in its support by
leadership Of opinion in national
cause worthy to awaken their patri-
otism and devotion.
We have not been following the path
OF peace. We have been bllndly STUN
bling along the road that continued
VIII lead to inevitable war.
When our government failed to tell
the truth about Belgium IL lost the
opportunity for leadership of the moral
sense of the American people and 1t
lost the power which knowledge Of
that leadership and sympathetic re-
sponse from the moral sense Of the
world would have given to our diploma
cy. When our government failed to
make any provision whatever for de-
Tending Its rights In case they should
be trampled upon 1t lost the power
which belief in its readiness and will
to maintain Its rights would have Civ
en- TO Its diplomatic representations.
When our government gave notice to
Germany that 1t would destroy Amer
lean lives and American ships at Its
peril our words, which would have
been potent If sustained by adequate
TO make them good and by
the prestige and authority Of the moral
leadership Of great people in great
cause, were treated with contempt
which should have been foreseen, and
when our government failed to make
hose words good its diplomacy was
Upon the record Of performance
which have tried to describe viii the
American people say that the Demo
ratio party il entitled 10 be continued
II power?
The defects Of the present admins
ration arise from two distinct causes.
Ghe first Is the temperament and train
ng Of the president. The second Is the
Of the Democratic party as
II the legislative and In the executive
departments either 10 originate wise
policies or to follow them when pro
,osed by others or TO administer them
Effectively II they are established. The
Democrats In congress are never con
rolled except with . club, and gov
rnmcnt with q club b always spas
nodic and defective.
We must NOT deceive ourselves by
ssuming that the critical period aris-
ng from the great war has passed.
he real dangers and the real tests Of
he strength Of our institutions lie be-
ore US. The most eIacting demands
pon the wisdom, The spirit and tho
Ourage OF our country are still 10 be
lade. In this great conflict all forms
Z government are on trial, democracy
yith the rest. The principles of ma
IOnal morality ure on trial We must
lay our part m the universal trial
yhether we will or no, for upon the re-
ult depends directly the question
neither our REPUBLIC can endure
What Are People 70 Erpect7
But what are the people to expect II
le Republican party IL restored 10
over!
This much we can say now.
They may expect, with confidence.
lat their government win meet the
situation with which We
lust deal Immediately upon the close
the war with "A policy OF moderate
ut adequate protection 20 American
Idustry
They may expect that Tie govern
tent viii bc administered with the
onesty and efficiency which have
arl.cd Republican administrations in
lc past
They may expect that the best posi-
e course for the preservation OF