The Republican journal., 1916-08-17
A Mastery Indictment.
The Chicago Tribune, Strong Progress
sive Paper, Thoroughly Approves Mr..
Huehes's Acceptance Address Declares
Wilson's Pilotage to Be Kudderless.
From the Chicago Tribune.l

from the Chicago Tribune.
The speech of acceptance of the Re-
publican candidate for the presidency is
not a partisan document. 1t is a states
manly message to the American people
which lays its major emphasis on an
issue transcending party, the issue of
Americas place in the world, or as Mr..
Hughes put it epigrammatically, Amer
lea first, and America Efficient
The address is inspiring in its fine re-
straint There are no flights of rhetoric
In it. There is no faint of personality.
There is only straight and weighty speech,
and we believe it will sink deep into the
minds of Americans regardless of party,
for it is the grav1 utterance of a strong
man who knows his own mind and would
have the nation know its mind. The
hand he lays upon each main problem of
the nation is firm and muscular. 1t seems
a hand for the tller in time of storm.
Mr.. Hughes, rightly gives the place of
prominence in his discussion to our III
ternational relations, our preparedness
to meet the dangers and responsibilities
thew involve, our needs for an ''organiza-
ton of peace" These are the battle is
sues. 1t is because as to these issues
the Republican candidate and the re-
united party behind him offer greater
security ard promise than their oppo-
nents that we may hope confidently for
success at the coming election.
Four Years of Dizzy Balancing
Mr.. Hughes criticism of the diplomacG
of the Wilson administration is master
" indictment. We know that the main
asset of the Democratic campaign is the
IL ,lo.
"He kept US out of war" To this Mr..
Hughes calm but singing analysis is
STAGGERING answer From this review
of four years of unhappy ineptitude we
realize that we have been kept perpetu-
ally on the rim of war, where courageous
firmness would have thrust US safely
back from the abyss; we realize that af-
ter four years of dizzy balancing we are
still in the midst of intoleraDle complica-
tions. still threatened and still unprepar-
ed.
And we find ourselves, despite the re-
heated and ever present warnings of
events, not only unprepared within but
with our credit among nations shameful
Iy impaired, our chief defence against
affront and injury-the respect of our
rights-laid low.
If this is keeping US out of war, we
have paid heavy price not merely In
national self-respect but in actual secur
itv. and it is time for the American peo-
ple to ask themselves whether with any
consideration OF their own safety or of
the wel-being of their children, such a
policy, such pilotage, can be longer ac-
cepted-the policy of fallacious peace
which perpetuates danger and a rudder-
less pilotage.
How we Have Muddled Through.
Mr.. Hughes survey of the immediate
past challenges our future. We have
muddled along, but our gratitude for
such immunity as we have enjoyed should
DE directed to Providence. The question
now is, how dare we go on into future
FULL of.the gravest possibilities under such
guidance as we have had for four years?
The tardy defence preparations of the
last few weeks, forced finally by the
pressure of a growing public alarm, is
no assurance for the future. On the
contrary, nothing could offer more con-
elusive demonstration of hopeless lack OF
foresight and incapacity to meet reso'
lutely and practically imminent and un'
escapable needs than the postponement
of this defence legislation through three
such terrific years until other leadership,
irresistible public demand, and the ap
proach of an accounting at the polls
forced action.