The Topeka state journal., 1916-08-01
HUGHES SPEECH

CONTINUED from Page One.l
seIf-government without the sacrifice
of essential national authority. appre-
ciating the necessity of stability. ex-
pert knowledge and thorough organi-
zation as the indispensable conditions
of security and progress; a country
loved by its citizens with patrlotlc
fervor permitting no division In their
allegiance and no rivals In tnelr a11ec-
toni mean America first and Amer
lca efficient. 1t is in this spirit That
respond to your summons.
Diplomatic Questions.
Our foreign relations have assumed
grave Importance in the past three
years. The conduct of diplomatic in
tercourse is in the keeping of the ex-
ecutive. 1t rests chiefly with him
whether we shall show competence or
incompetence; whether the national
honor shall be maintained or whether
our prestige and influence shall be
lowered or advanced What is the
record of the administration? The
first duty of the executive was to COM
mand the respect of the world by the
personnel of our state department and
our representation abroad No party
exigency could excuse the none-per-
formance of this obvious obligation.
Still, after making every allowance for
certain commendable appointments. 1t
is apparent that this obligation was
HOL performed. AL In6 very OSS
of the present administration, where
in the direction of diplomatic inter-
course there should have been con-
spicuous strength and expertness we
Lad weakness and inexpertneSS. IN
stead OF assuring respect, we invited
distrust of our competence and specu-
lation as to our capacity for firnlress
and decision, thus entailing many diff
ficulties which otherwise easily could
have been escaped. Then, in nuner-
ous instances. notably in Latin-Amer-
lea where such a course was particu-
larly reprehensible, and where We de-
sire to encourage the most friendly
relations. men of long diplomatic ex-
perience whose knowledge and train
ing were of especial value to the coun-
try were retired from the service ap-
parently for no other reason than to
meet partisan demands in the appoint
ment of inexperienced persons. Where.
as in Santo Domingo. we had assumed
an important special trust in the in
terest of its people, that trust was
shockingly betrayed in order to satisfy
deserving Democrats"
ADMINISTRATORS Disregard.
The record showing the administra-
tion's disregard of its responsibilities
with respect to our representation in
diplomacy is an open book and the
specifications may easily be had. 1t is
a record revealing professions belied-
II is a dismal record to those who be-
heve in Americanism. Take. for ex-
ample. the withdrawal of Ambassa dor
Eerrick from France. There he stood,
in the midst of alarms. the very en-
bodiment of courage. of poise, of ex-
ecutive capacity. universally trusted
and beloved. No diplomat ever won
more completely the affections OF
foreign people; and there was no bet
ter fortune for this country than to
have at the capital of any one of the
belligerent nations a representative
thus esteemed Yet the administration
permitted itself to supersede him. The
point is not that the man was Ambas-
sador Herrick- or that the nation was
France. but that we invited the atten-
ton of the world to the inexcusab BILE
yielding of national interest to partisan
expediency- 1t was a lamentabIe sac
rffice of international repute. If we
would have the esteem of foreign ma
tons We must deserve it. We must