Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-22
AS to Hughes Views

--------- Des Moines Register.
TT IS NOT due to any natural reticenee or
lack Of opinions on the part Of Justice
Charles f. Hughes but TO his position on the
supreme court that everyone is today repeating
without credit the words applied to him in 1903
by Hamilton Holt managing editor OF the In
dependent In that year Mr.. Holt wrote Of
Hughes in the following words, equally appl-
cable in the year 1910.
"All over the country people are watching
his career with eagerness and hope, and many
OF them have come 10 the conclusion that he IS
worthy Of the presidency. But although there IS
general confidence in bis ability and honesty.
comparatively little is known Of his Political
views especially on national issues"
Justice Hughes has nevertheless expressed
himself time and again upon national issues, and
there Is not a public question before the people
today upon which his addresses before he be-
came justice Of the supreme court do not throw
light as to his general attitude
Hughes is man Of peaee-and he believes in
preparedness.
He believes in UNFOLDING the national honor
and he objects to the old definition Of honor
which would force war over every trivial issue
in International relations.
He believes great good may come Of specific
wars-and he denounces war in general IN un-
measured terms
On January 81, 1908 Hughes declared that
our security rested upon devotion 70 peace backed
by adequate defense. The following paragraph
covers practically the whole question Of what he
believes on that score
I'VE are devoted TO the interests OF peace
and we cherish no policy Of aggression. The
maintenance Of our ideals is our surcst protec-
ton Il is our constant aim TO live in friendship
with ali nations and to realize the aims Of free
government secure from the Interruptions Of
strife and the wastes Of war II Is entirely CON
sistent with these aims, and IT is our duty TO
make adequate provision for our defense and to
maintain the efficiency Of our army and navy
And this favor"
In the same address, delivered before the Re
publican club Of the city Of New York he de-
carcd himself for protective tariff based upon
"the difference In the cost Of production here
and abroad" but not making THIS policy cover
for exorbtant rates for obtaining special priy-
leges from the government which are not based
upon considerations OF the general welfare"
Justice Hughes believes in the hyphenated
citizen who has dropped his hyphen or made IL
a sign Of union, not OF separation. At the dedi-
cation OF the Siegel monument 1907, he said
This is our common country. Whatever the
abode Of our ancestors, this Is our home, and
will be the home OF our children, and in our love
Tor our institutions and In our desire to MAIN
tain the standards OF civic conduct which are
essential to their perpetuity, we recognize no
difference in race or creed-we stand united, a
contented people rejoicing in the privileges and
determined to meet the responsibilities OF Ameri-
can citizenship"
In the same year, 1907, he said;
The necessity OF war as a last defense Of
liberty and honor Is admitted only to be de-
precated and In the desire to prevent armed
strife there is almost complete unanmty'
So far as his present sentiments can be
judged by past utterances, Justice Hughes stands
primarily for peace He has said: "The time is
sure 10 come when war will be unthinkable'
There is nothing in bis record to give comfort to
the lingo or the militsrist
On the other hand, Hughes does stand for
adequate national defense, for strength in the
army and navy, for a national honor which he
says has been upheld by the republican party"
and it is evident that he - not a peace at any
price individual.
The Register has been at some pains to seek
the views OF Justice Hughes upon matters now
before the nation, as they are to be found in
his various public addresses, and the record is
sufficiently complete to dispel a good deal OF
the uncertainty about the silent candidate for
president