Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-23
Words and Deeds.
From the Springfield Republican.
lit Is not words, but the strength
and resolution behind the words, that

From the Springfield Republican.
1T Is not words, but the strength
and resolution behind the words, that
count.''-Justice Hughes.
These are brave words-what Of the
strength and resolution behind them? To
chow those qualities neither n politician
nor a politician nor a party need be in of.
flee. If the executive or the congressional
majority is weak. shutting, and e%vasive.
the congressional minority and rival as
pirants to the presidential office have a
splendid chance to appeal to the nation by
a display of strength. holiness and cam
dor.
In such a case words become deeds. To
commit ones fortunes to a definitely de-
scribed policy is not merely what Colone!
Roosevelt calls rhetoric" 1t is a political
act. 1t may not require quite such cour-
age and energy as a like step would inv
volve for the party in power and its lead
ers, because these are in a position to act
Immediately upon the decision. If that
means war, they have the making of war
in their hands, and this grave RESPONSE
bility rests on them. and is inevitably a
check on decisions leading to war.
Still, in a minor degree the words of a
minority, If they are not mere words, are
acts, and acts imply reactions. Aliena-
ton of the German-American vote, for
example, may not be so grave a risk as
the risk of involving the United States in
the war which is desolating Europe. yet it
is a risk. Has the minority candidate who
accuses President Wilson and the demo-
cratic party of want of courage, bravely
faced this issue? Or are his words what
Colonel Roosevelt would call pussy-foot-
Ing?
Take for example his guarded reference
to the Lusitania: There we had ample
notice; in fact, published notice. How
ample? Does MIR. Hughes mean that there
was time after the warnings on the day
of sailing for the United States to have
got word to Germany and for Germany
to have got word to the submarine which
was lying in wait for its prey? That is
disputable, and in using the word ample
In connection with the notice given JUS
tice Hughes Is writing as a candidate for
political office rather than as a legal ex-
pert.
But allowing, for the sake of argument,
that there was time for all this, the Ger
man-Americans who uphold the right of
the fatherland to sink a munitions ship,
and deny the right of Americans to sail
on such a ship are entitled to ask the re-
done to prevent the sinking of the LUST
tania. Would he have let it be under
stood that If an American life was lost
the result would be war? If not, what
would he have given Germany to UNDER
stand. that would have caused a precipi-
tate countermanding of the orders already
issued? COMMUNICATIONS whose votes
for MIR. Hughes are invited nave a right
to know. and to satisfy their curiosity
might need not merely words, but
strength and resolution" For a minority
reasonably safe, but it gives an ironic
touch to complaints Of lack Of courage.
Even a minority can show courage If 1t
possesses 1t or betray a vague and UNI
decided state of mind II courage and de-
cision are lacking.