New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-01

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: This Presidential campaign bids fair
to be famous for general apathy beyond any
campaign for forty years. During the last
month | have talked with men from many
states and have been struck with their un-
willingness TO discuss the candidates or the
issues. One man admits he is for Hughes;
another states he will probably vote for Will
son. Is there any discussion, any attempt
by either to convert the other? None that
have vet observed Frequently remark
follows that after all it won't make much
difference which candidate is elected, and
the conversation turns quickly to golf the
stock market or the unreasonable weather.
No excitement, no interest, no deep concern
over what may happen at the polls!
II nv experience mas not been unusual, IS
not such state of mind a perniciously I'M
healthy symptom for country that has So
much to decide-so much that may settle ir-
revocably the future of our children and
grandchildren as certainly as the answers to
the questions of 1860 determined the nature
of the nation we are to-day? Better far the
bitterness of the elections following the Civil
War; Better far the excitement of the first
Mckinley Bryan campaign. And yet the
issues to-day touch more deeply the vital
being of our republican institutions than did
the question of one kind OF money against
another. Are we, then, people that IS
stirred to every fibre by what affected the
money of the realm, or the highness or low
ness of our customs duties, yet will remain
unmoved, unwilling even to argue, when mat
ters involving the fundamental rights OF man
and the very foundations of government are
crying to be settled?
Our National Guardsmen Gas many as
could be mustered) are now on the border
"Wilson's conscripts" they have been fifty
called doing their willing. patriotic best,
though unframed and poorly equipped, TO
perform duties that should be performed by
an adequate regular army. That necessary
army has been refused By Democratic Con-
gress with the acquiescence of . Democratic
President and of the large part of the Re
publican minority in Congress. And that re-
Ifusal was in the face of national peril from
several directions obvious TO all who were
not unwilling to see Our relations with
other powers are in a chaotic and humiliating
state; the lives of our people are taken and
our rights are trampled on by nations who
are coming to despise US because of the
failure of those at the head Of our govern
ment who do not know their jobs, arc IN
capable of transacting our nations business
with other nations, and do not care to learn
or 20 seek competent advice and help doc
trinaires who will not face the facts, but
follow fine fancics and unavoidable theories.
And what has the Republican party the
opposition party-to say or propose IN TINS
situation. brought about largely by its politi
cal opponent? It's platform IS vague and
general. Beyond calling the other fellow
some hard names and issuing some platitudes
which can be matched point for point in the
Democratic platform, there is nothing that
the anxious, patriotic citizen can tie TO. Re
publican leaders IN action and speech are
even more unsatisfactory, more negative than
the platform. And the Republican Presden-
tial candidate is silent
The platform cannot be altered. the lead
ers. Judging from their records, cannot be
converted or inspired with new ideals but
cannot something DE gained from the candi-
date? Will he not tell US "in straght-hungl
words and few" just where he stands on each
vexing and vital issue of the moment? We
do not want general statements, assortmentsl
Of words so arranged as not to offend this
or that body Of voters, hyphenates, pacihsts
or what not. We want TO know beyond the
possibility of misunderstanding on which
side his influence will be cast when measures
intended to solve present difficulties are in
troduced in a new Congress, which, pray
God, will be devoted to patriotism, not to
pork. We want TO know how he will use the
immense power of the Office he seeks in set
Ting the issues between this nation and the
other great powers. We want from him, if
he can give it, something to indicate that ne
can be in some part the moral leader of
which the lack has been felt so much in
these past two years. We know he is an