Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-20
est. Louis Post-Dispatch.)

ferred Roosevelt. but accepted Hughes,
calls him on the question of Amer
icanism. 1t rejects his meaningless
platitudes and demands that he define
specifically where he stands with re-
gard to the propaganda of the German
American Alliance, which claims the
republican vote as its own. Mr.. Hughes
must answer the Tribune or forfeit
the votes of a great multitude of re-
publicans and progressives who will
not support a candidate who lacks
the courage to make it clear that he
stands sQuarely against anti-Amer.
icanism in every form.
The American people demand that
Mr.. Hughes be specific on other points
to which he referred in his initial
statement accepting the republican
nomination. Republican critics have
sneered at the futility of President
Wilson's fine phrasing" Mr.. Hughes
is doing the fine phrasing. He is deal
ing in vague generalities. He must de-
fine himself
The pro-German leaders indorse and
support his candidacy on the ground
that he would have been more 'neu-
trail" than Mr.. Wilson: that in his for
eign policy he would not have done
what the president has done.
In what respect would Mr.. Hughes
have acted other than the president
did? What would he have done that
the president has not done? At what
point and in what manner would he
have changed the presidents record
In his acceptance statement Mr.,
Hughes said:
Il stand for the firm and unfinch-
ing maintenance of all the rights of
American citizens on land and sea. !
neither impugn motives nor underes-
innate difficulties. But it is most re-
grettably true that in our foreign re-
lations we have suffered intellectually
from the weak and vacillating course
which has been taken with regard to
MexicO-a course lamentably wrong
with regard to both our rights and our
duties. We interfered with incon-
sistency; and while seeking to dictate
when we were not concerned, we ut
terly failed to appreciate and dis
charge our plain duty to our own cit
liens"
At the outset of the administration
of the high responsibilities of our dip
lomatic intercourse with foreign ma
lions we subordinated to a conception
of partisan requirements and we pre-
scented to the world humiliating spec
tacle of ineptitude. Belated efforts
have not awaited to recover the infiu-
ence and prestige so unfortunately
sacrificed and brave words have been
stripped Of their force by indecision.
In the case of Mexico, it is not suffi-
cient merely to criticize the president
course as inconsistent and weak. Mr.
Hughes must specify wherein 1t was
inconsistent and weak and failed to
appreciate and discharge our plain
| duty to our own citizens" What would
| he have done under similar circum-
stances? Would Mr.. Hughes, I'M
| der similar conditions, have INTERVIEWED
| in Mexico with armed force to re-
store order and set up a government
| Would he have gone to war with MeXi,
co, torn by revolutionary factions, tc
! I
aration from a de facto government or
a revolutionary chief When would
/ he have interviewed? And how far
would he have carried his interven
ton?
Be specific, Mr.. Hughes.
! What does Mr.. Hughes mean wher
/ he says that the high responsibilities
/ Of our diplomatic intercourse with for
+ eign nations were "subordinated to a
conception of partisan requirement.
and We presented to the world the hui
initiating spectacle of ineptitude"
/ What does he mean when he says ''be-
! lated efforts have not availed to re-
cover the influence and prestige so I'M
fortunately sacrificed and brave words
nave been stripped of their force by in
decision?
| What decision would Mr.. Hughes
have taken at any point in our diplo-
matte intercourse with the belligerent
nations of Europe?
Mr. Wilson refused to protest
against the invasion of Belgium by
| Germany or to interfere with the oc-
cupation of Belgium by Germany.
/ Would Mr.. Hughes have protested
/ against the invasion of Belgium
! Yes Would he have Joined the en-
tente powers in their resistance OF
Belgium's invasion? Would he have
shaken the mailed fist or thrown the
shining armor of the United States
into the European arena on account OF
Belgium?
/ The pro-Germans in America de,
/ ---