The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-07-21
WILSON'S PEACE POLICY


the editorial columns of The Farm
ington News of last week:
! 1t requires more than plat
forms to bring results and in the
| Democratic platform of 1912 there
was strong plank declaring that
"The constitutional rights of
American citizens should protect
them on our border and go with
them throughout the world and
every American citizen residing
or having property in any portion
of the country is entitled to his
rights by having the full protec-
ton of the United States both for
himself and his property"
Notwithstanding this bold
American declaration, constitu-
tional rights were not maintain
ed, American property has not
been protected > and countless
American lives have been lost,
while the Wilson administration
has contented itself by writing
meaningless notes. The 1912
Democratic platform gave protec-
ton to neither lives nor property
of American citizens, either on our
border or abroad and the 1916
platform, with Woodrow Wilson
to enforce it, will be just as i'm
potent.
This kind of criticism is a sort of
"stock in trade" with Republican pa
pers and orators, for it is much easier
to find fault than to point out specific
acts and to say wherein they were
wrong and what would have been the
effect of a different action. They have
been asked in vain what Mr.. Wilson
should have done, what they would
have done if they had been il control,
or what they purpose doing if the
people should unfortunately trust
them again with the reins of govern
ment. The drastic course which they,
by intimation, declare Mr.. Wilson
should have pursued, would have inev-
itably resulted in profitless war with
both Germany and Mexico. Is that
what they wanted-is that what they
want now?
Democratic, and we believe an over
whelming majority of the American
people, approve what The News calls
Mr.. Wilson's meaningless notes, :"
for they had decided effect in stop
ping Germany's promiscuous subma-
rine warfare on merchant vessels, de-
stroying neutral lives and property,
and down in their innermost conscience
The News and thousands of Republi-
cans approve the policy pursued by
Mr.. Wilson, both in relation to Ger
many and Mexico. To condemn Mr..
Wilson's firm and pacific policy is to
condemn the foreign policies of Pres
idents Grant, Harrison, Lincoln (all
Republicans), and of Pierce, Van Blu
rem, jefferson, Adams and Washing
ton, as the following historical facts,
cited by Governor Glynn of New York
in his speech as chairman of the Ma
tional Democratic Convention, clearly
show. They are matters of history
and cannot be gainsaid. Compare
them with Mr.. Wilson's foreign policy
and see how clearly they justify his
course:
When Grant was President, during
the war between Spain and the West
Indies, a Spanish gunboat seized the
vessel Virginius, flying the American
flag, and a Spanish commandant in
cold blood shot the captain of the
36 of the crew and 16 of |
The passengers.
But we didn't go to war. Grant i
settled our troubles by negotiation
Just as the President of the United
States is trying to do today.
When Benjamin Harrison was Pres
dent, the people of Chile conceived a
Violent dislike to the United States for
,ur irsistence upon neutrality during
he Chilean revolution. When this
feeling was at its height one junior
,fficer from the United States warship
Baltimore was killed outright in the
streets of Valparaiso and 16 of our
sailors wounded, of whom one after
wards died. In a message to Congress
IN January %, 1892, supported by
Secretary of State James G, Blaine,
md on evidence submitted by Fight
ng Bob" Evans and Winfield Scott
schley, President Harrison said this
assault on our honor chad its origin
n the hostility to these men as sail
RS of the United States wearing the
inform of the government and mot in
my individual act of personal ami
mostly" and that this nation "must
AXE notice Of the event as an infrac-
ion Of its rights and dignity" and as
IN invasion Of its international
ights.p
But we didn't go to war. Harrison
ettled our troubles by negotiation
ust as the President of the United
'tates is trying to do to-day.
When Lincoln was President, this
ountry's rights were violated on ev-
~ side. England, Russia, France