Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-04-04
NUMBER IA
q better future, and there remained IN
the eyes Of mankind only solicitude for
trade and profit and prosperity.

q better future, and there remained IN
the eyes Of mankind only solicituds for
trade and profit and prosperity.
shrank From the Truth.
The American government could not
really have approved the treatment of
Belgium, but under mistaken policy
It shrank from speaking the truth.
Such policies as have described are
doubly dangerous In their effect upon
foreign nations and in thei. effect at
home. It Is matter Of universal ex.
perience that a weak and apprehenstve
treatment Of foreign affairs invites en-
croachments upon rights and leads 10
situations In which 1t Is difficult to
prevent war, while a firm and frank
policy at the outset prevents difficult
situations from arising and tends most
strongly to preserve peace. On the
other hand, II a government is to be
strong in its diplomacy its own peo-
pie must be ranged in its support BY
leadership Of opinion in a national
cause worthy to awaken their patri-
otism and devotion.
We have not been following the path
Of peace. We have been blindly STUN
bling along the road that continued
will lead to inevitable war.
When our government failed to tell
the truth about Belgium 1t lost the
opportunity for leadership Of the moral
sense Of the American people and Il
lost the power which knowledge Of
that leadership and a sympathetic re-
sponse from the moral sense Of the
world would have given to our diploma
~. 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 It's
peril our words, which would have
been potent If sustained by adequate
preparation to make them good and by
the prestige and authority Of the moral
leadership Of great people In a great
cause, We're treated with a contempt
which should have been foreseen, and
when our government failed to make
those words good its diplomacy was
bankrupt.
Upon the record Of performance
which I have tried to describe will the
American people say that the Demo-
cratic party Is entitled to be continued
In power? -.
The defects Of the present admins
tration arise from two distinct causes.
The first is the temperament and train
ing Of the president. The second Is the
incapacity Of the Democratic party as
It is represented In Washington both
In the legislative and in the executive
departments either to originate wise
policies or to follow them when pro-
posed by others or to administer them
effectively If they are established. The
Democrats In congress are never con-
trolled except with club, and gov
ernment with a club Is always spas.
modic and defective.
We must not deceive ourselves BY
assuming that the critical period arfs-
ing from the great war has passed
The real dangers and the real tests Of
the strength Of our institutions lie be.
fore US. The most exacting demands
upon the wisdom, the spirit and the
courage Of our country are still to be
made. In this great conflict all forms
Of government are on trial, democracy
with the rest. The principles Of ma
tional morality are on trial We must
play our part In the universal trial
whether we will or no, for upon the re.
suit depends directly the question
whether our republic can endure.
What Are People to Expsetf
But what are the people to expect if
the Republican party Is restored to
powerF
This much we can say now:
They may expect, with confidence
that their government will meet the
economic situation with which we
must deal Immediately upon the close
Of the war, with policy Of moderate
but adequate protection to American
industry.
They may expect that the govern
ment will be administered with the
honesty and efficiency which have
marked Republican administrations In
the past
They may expect that tho best posi-
BILE course for the preservation OF
peace will be followed by a foreign pol
icy which. with courtesy and friendli.
ness to all nations, Is frank and fear
less and honest in its assertion Of
American rights.
They may expect that their govern
ment will stand for full and adequate
preparation by the American people
for their own defense. The Republican
party loves peace and hates war; It
abhors and will never submit to mill
tary domination; but It Is composed OF
men who love our country and who
deem that the independence, the nber.
ty, the honor and the opportunity OF
the American democracy are not mere
" to be talked about with weak ana
Habby sentiment, but are to be main
tained and safeguarded by the prac.
tical power of a virile and patriotic
people. It is clearsighted enough to
see that preparation for defense must
have due relation to the possibilities
Of attack; that under the conditions OF
modern warfare much preparation
must be made before a possible attack
or all preparation will be impossible
after the attack. The Republican par
ty stands for a citizenship made COM
petent by training to perform the Tree.
mans duty Of defense for his country.
It stands for a regular army no larger
than Is necessary. but as large as u
necessary to serve as q hrst line, Q
nucleus, source 1t instruction and OF
administration for the army Of Ameri-
can citizens who may be called upon
10 defend their country. And the Re
publican party stands for the gospel
Of patriotic service to our country BY
every citizen, according to his ability
IN peace and In war. -,... 80
0ue povsoe For PoaoA