The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-10

WOul0= not nave tolerated 1t and no
Statesman foresaw the present situa-
ton. But to charge the Democratic
administration with responsibility for
the inadequate means left us by the
Republican Party is injustice of the
grossest character.
Upon the issue of preparedness
there is no nistaking the attitude or
purposes of the President
tE1ow can Americans differ about
the safety of America p is the question
that he submits to his fellow country
men.
sIn January and February he spoke
IN New York, Pittsburg, Cleveland
Milwaukee, Chicago, DesMoines. Tole-
l1as Kansas City and ST. LOUIS. taking
counsel with the citizenship Of this
country concerning the preparedness
necessary to the safety OF the repup-
lie, discussing with frankness the pos
Stble periIs of the hour and seeking
zppvrt for an adequate policy of ma
nj and military preparation.A The re-
= 'onse was immediate. The neces-
sAry bills will be passed before Con-
gresS adjourns- You may debate
whether these particular bills go far
enough or go too far-but clearly they
are measures adopted in response to
the sentiment OF America and are steps
in the right direction.
The American soldier.
IT know 1t is not good form to speak
well of our army or navy, but at the
risk OF being regarded as pacfflst and
with apologies to Senator Mclean who
suggests that our soldiers faint If cali
a day. call attention to the recent
performances OF American troopers in
Mexico.
ON March gath, with eos men of
the Eleventh Cavalry, Major How re
cut loose from all communication. On
an issue Of I'VE days rations the coll
uInn marched In FL days Ell miles,
which IS only 100 miles less than the
distance from Paris to Berlin.
They marched through desert
which AFFORDED no fodder and only at
long intervals water for the horses.
There were no roads-only mountain
trails During the entire march they
were beyond reach of relief. They
fought several engagements. were VIC
torfous IN all. and lost but one man.
With all due respect to Senator Nc
Lean assert that there are no sol
sdiers in the world who could have ex- |
celled that feat OF that little band of |
American troopers That is the spir-
It Of America. That is illustrative OF
what Americans can do when put to |
the test.
Support the President
1.-The Senator INDUCES in a prolong-
ed and inconcIusive consideration of !
the Presidents foreign policies At /
one moment he affeets to believe the
President infrm Of purpose In the
next breath he implies that he may
have gone too far and ends his futile /
discussion with the lame and ir1potent +
conclusions I think this is a debatabIe /
question:
Again. he says, what is the sane
and patriotic thing to do p But he
supplies no answer to the question
II the Senator desires to know what
patriotic Republicans ought to do, i
commend to him the statement made +
BY ex-Presideut Taft, on April 21st, in
an address delivered at Chicago. Mr..
Taft discusses the course pursued by
President Wilson and says He is right |,
and we all must stand by him I cam
not follow the reasoning of those who
exalt Americanfsm and patri otisrn andd
90 not uphold his hands in the present
crisis. II
This was also the attitude of sen-i
ator Root on April rs, 1914 Wfen.1
speaking at banquet of the American
Society of International Law at the
Willard Hotel in Washington, he said:
THANK Heaven we have a Presi-
dent in whose LOFTY character, in
whose sincerity of purpose, in his gem
ufne desire to do what is right. wise. s.
patriotic. and what is best for the f
country and humanity, we can all trust
absolutely. I trust in him I have =
differed from him in questions of poll Fl
ICY and doubtless shall differ from him
again Men coming UP with difrerent
environments and associations and
Ideas must diner but I have confi-
dence in the character and purpose of
the President OF the United States He
IS my President and I viii stand be- l.
bind him in his leadership.
These are ringing American words
spoken before the political campaign
Fa<nf< -
the Republican Party required the dis
lawyer to prepare brief
On the other SIDE
Our Foreign Policies.
The policy OF the President is to
maintain our national honor and, if !
possible, to preserve peace. Who will
deny that before submitting to the
hazards and mizeries of war, states
nanship requires that the appeal to !
reason and justice should first be en-
ployed, and that every resource known
to diplomacy should be exha listed I? OF
course, there are irresponsible and ex-
itable critics who comp plain of the vex- :
70 such negotiations. E
Alexander Hamilton and Rufus :
King criticised the diplomacy of wash Z
ngton in connection wotb the Genet !
controversy. The members of the :
Cabinet of John Adams criticised his
negotiations with France.
John Randolph bitterly attacked !
Iefferson'ss foreign policy. Horace /
Greeley was dissatisfied with the dipIo- / :
macy of Lincoln, and many men who :
? istook themselves for statesmen. con-
1eHned the action of Lincoln in over /.
ruling his Secretary OF the Navy and !
sven the House of Representatives to
peace with Great Britain :
when the Trent affair had stirred the
niger OF dur people. We have had =
distressing international problems be- :
.ore- In 1893, during the war be-
ween EngIamd and France, the former :
leized and held hundreds of vessels
loating the American flag. That incl :
lent IN our history led Charles Sum
Ter to say, washington uphoIding thel