New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-03
A Denial That Does Not Deny.

thOr1Zed TO speak Tor MI JuStlCt iiuSH'S
at Chicago he is now duly enlightened by
the statement of Mr.. Hughes's secretary
But did any one believe such preposter-
GUS thing? The Tribune doubts 1t.
What use. then, is there for Mr.. Hughes
10 continue the game Of hide and seek
the wholly unconvincing and rather dis
amounting pretence that a man can he
ready TO accept a nomination without
being a candidate and desire something
without being an aspirant?
1t would be possible TO regard Mr.
Hughes's present course with more pa
thence if only Mr.. Hughess own personal
fortunes were concerned. When a man
desires to be nominated for a public Of
fee there is usually no occasion TO com
plain Of the method by which he seeks
TO get the nomination he desires.
But this is not the situation to-day.
The campaign which is to come may easily
be the most momentous since that Of Abra-
ham Lincoln in 1860. Never since that
time have so many Americans been seek
ing for leadership, for courage, for ca
pacitv and conviction. All over these
United States there is manifest an eager
and an earnest stirring and striving tow
ard new and better national ideals.
There are millions of Americans who
care little or nothing about political par
tics. Probably never in American history
has the old partisan habit exercised a
smaller influence upon the electorate OF
the country. Men are not asking about
political considerations; they are only ask
ing that there may be real opportunity
n express their faith and their hope fo-
their own nation.
Is il likely that the thousands and tens
Of thousands of Americans who are dis
satisfied with Mr.. Wilson because they be-
lieve that he has been in most things an
opportunist and in all critical situations
has lacked the courage and the decision
Of a true leader will readily accept the
leadership of man who, so far as ou3-
ward appearances are concerned at least,
has used his position on the Supreme
Court bench to disguise his views from
the public and protect him from the po-
itical peril incident TO statement Of the
faith that may be in him?
We have decried Mr.. Wilson's policy Of
"watchful waiting" but is there any es-
sential difference between the Presidents
policy in the past and the present course
Of Mr. Hughes, course which has al
ready enlisted the Hyphenate support
and is now awakening the enthusiasm Of
the professional politicians who were yes
terday the opponents of all that Mr..
Hughes meant in the mind and memory
Of American citizens?
The Tribune does not believe that mere
calculation, an utterly selfish and self
seeking policy, has led Mr.. Hughes to take
refuge behind judicial precedent and seek
a nomination while withholding from the
people of the country that information
upon his views on pending issues which
they are entitled to hear in advance Of
any nomination. But The Tribune is sat
isfed that if Mr.. Hughes holds to his pres
ent course thousands and tens of thousands
of Americans will believe this and act
upon their belief.
There is only one chance TO defeat
Woodrow Wilson in the present campaign.
He can be beaten only by a man who
proves himself strong where the Presi-
dent has shown himself weak, who can
mobilize and concentrate those Americans
who feel that a new era and new ideal
of nationalism and of Americanism are at
hand. Unless the Republicans nominate
man who can do this their nomination
will be an empty thing.
Those of us who hold that the present
is a great and splendid opportunity in
American history, those of us who believe
that a real and permanent awakening in
American patriotism and public service is
possible, cannot fail TO cry out against a
course which has even the senrblance of a
readiness to sacrifice all moral and intel
lcctual progress TO the wholly blind and
selfish calculation of candidate.
1t is perfectly patent that by adherirg
20 a policy of calculated silence Mr. Hughes
may obtain the Republican nomination for
President. But is it the nomination
rather than the election that he desires?
Can he not perceive that a nomination
attained by the method he is now employ
ing TO obtain it will be thing of infinitely
less value than nomination obtained in
a convention which knows his views and
has heard his expression thereof?
Addition, division and silence" was
onto a motto Of shame in American poll
tics. The process of adding and subtract
ing delegates is now being carried forward
in Chicago by those who manage political
affairs in their own and not IN the public
interest. Does Mr.. Hughes really care to
be the candidate of Barnes, Penrose and
their sort. named with the previous indorsc-
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