Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-16

The plank covering a merchant ma
rine was
Immediate provision should b"
made for the development of the carry
ing trade OF the United States. Our
foreign commerce has in the past been
subject to many unnecessary and yeXa-
tiouS obstacles in the way Of legislation
Of republican congresses. Until the
recent democratic tariff legislation, it
was hampeTed by unreasonable bur
dens of taxation. Until the recent
banking legislation, il had at its dis
posal few Of the necessary instrumen
ralities Of international credit and eX-
change. Until the formulation OF the
pending act to promote the cOnStTuc-
ton of a merchant marine. it lacked
even the prospect of adequate carriage
by sea. We heartily endorse the pur-
poses and policy Of the pending ship
ping bill and favor all such additional
measures Of constructive or remedial
legislation as may be necessary to re-
store our flag to the seas and to pro-
vide further facilities for our foreign
commerce, particularly such laws as
may be made to remove unfair condi-
rions of competition in the dealings of
American merchants and producers /
with competitors in foreign markets.
Strong Preparedness Plank.
The question Of preparedness was
covered in the platform in these /
words:
Along with the proof Of our char
/ acter as a nation must go the proof Of .
our power to play the part that legiti- .
mately belongs to us The people Of /
the United States love peace They +
respect the rights and COyet the friend .
ship Of all other nations. They desire
neither any additional territory nor
any advantage which cannot be peace !
fully gained by their skill. their in
dustry or their enterprise; but they
insist upon having absolute freedom
Of national life and policy and feel that
, they owe it 10 themselves and TO the
role of spirited independence which it
is their sole ambition to play that they
should render themselves secure
against the hazard of interference from
any quarter and should be able to pro-
teCt the rights upon the seas or in any
part Of the world. We, therefore, favor
the maintenance Of an army fully AIDE
Quate to the requirements of order, Of
safety and OF the protection Of the ma
tons rights. the fullest development Of
modern methods Of sea coast defense
and the maintenance of an adequate re
serve Of citizens trained 10 arms and
prepared to safeguard the people and
! territory of the United States against
: any danger OF hostile action which may
unexpectedly arise; and a fixed policy
- for the continuous development of d
navy worthy to support the great naval
traditions OF the United States and
f fully equal to the international tasks
which the United States hopes and ex-
. poets TO take q part in performing
/ The plans and enactments Of the pres
q ent congress afford substantial proof
OF our purpose IN this cIigent matter.
t Held to Paths of Neutrality.
r. The democratic administration has
G throughout the present war scrupu-
= lousy and successfully held to the old
s paths of neutrality and of the peaceful
s pursuit Of the legitimate objects OF
8 our national life which statesmen OF
d all parties and cTeeds have prescribed
r for themselves in America since the be
d ginning of our history. But the cir
q cumstanCe5 Of the last two years have
e revealed necessities OF international
e action which no former generation can
n have fOreseen. We hold that il is the
s duty Of the United States to use its
Is power, not only to make itself safe -
d home but also to make secure its Just
n interests throughout the world and
l. both for this end and in the interest
, OF humanity. to assist the world in Sc
l. curing settled peace and justice We
g believe that every people has the right
/ TO choose the sovereignty under which
e 1t shall live. that the small states OF
y the world have a right to enjoy from
r other nations the same respect for
their sovereignty and for their terri
5 torial integrity that great and power
u tul nations expect and insist upon, and
o that the world has right to be free
J. from every disturbance Of its peace
T that has its origin in aggression or dis
regard Of the rights of peoples and ma
IS tions; and We believe that the time
il has come when it is the duty of the
Is United States 10 Join with the other ma
e tons Of the world in any feasible ass0-
d citation that will effectively serve these
2 principles. inviOlate. the complete Sc.
" curity OF the highways Of trade for The
IS common and unhindered use Of al
"a nations
~ Admiration Is Gained.
The present administration has con
= sistently sought to act upon and real
u lze in its conduct Of the foreign affair.
. Of he s-,T.