Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-12
IS THIS A PEACE-AT-ANY-
PRICE COUNTRY7

II
speakers and writer's Of campaign
literature. following the lead of the Pres
ident. are charging that Republican sue
cess means war.
Mr.. Wilson. In his speech 10 the Young
Mems Democratic Clubs. said. There is
only one choice as against peace and that
is war" and he did his best TO convince
his hearers that the policy which his Ad.
ministration has pursued could not have
been changed without precipitating war.
His conclusion. therefore. was that II
the Republicans are put In power they
must continue to do as he has done or
light.
This is the cheapest kind Of psttifog-
ging logic. In the FIRST place the premises
are unsound. We have not been at peace
with Mexico and we are not now at peace.
We invaded the country with an armed
force and fought a pitched battle, killing
scores Of Mexicans and suffering losses
ourselves. We have an armed force in
Mexico now and are just Withdrawing
from the border a hundred thousand mill
tiamen sent there to prevent an armed
invasion Of our territory.
Tho Republican answer TO Democratic
mouthings about Mexico--it has been
made by Mr.. Hughes a score OF times
is that n the Administration had observed
the principles OF international law from
the beginning no conditions would have
arisen TO excuse or provoke such war as
we have waged on that country. The kind
Of President Mexico is TO have is for
Mexico 20 decide in her own way. All
we need to know is whether he is backed
by power enough TO perform the ordi-
nary functions OF government.
The Republican position on the Euro
pean war. explained by Mr.. Hughes time
after time, is that II we had pursued
firm and consistent policy OF insisting
on respect for American right to the pro-
lection of life and property we should
not have been brought to the brink OF
war. We have the authority Of Mr.. VIII.
son himself that we were liable last win.
ter TO be drawn into the conflict any day.
By his own admission tho course Of
events carried us so close TO war that
he had TO leave Washington to urge the
country to use its influence with Con-
gress 70 do something 10 prepare us for
the imminent breaking out OF hostilities.
AS matter OF fact. by the record and
by their own admissions. the country is
in greater danger Of war through a con.
tinuance Of the Democrats in power than
through Republican success; that is. un.
less the Democracy is committed irrev-
ocabiy to peace at any price.
There II no mistalxing the purpose
behind the words OF Mr.. Hughes in the
Metropolitan Opera House Monday night,
when he said:
We all desire peace but we desire
peace 10 be honorably maintained by
correct policies, by firm insistence on
known rights by deserving and holding
the esteem of the world. We have not
been kept out of war we have not en-
forced our rights; we have sacrificed
our honor.
The Republican party is the party OF
peace, that peace which is walled in and
buttressed and bombproofed by adequate
preparedness to protect and defend the
national rights. 1t believes with Thomas
Jefferson. on whom the modern Democ-
racy has turned its back. that whatever
enables us to go to war secures our
peace" Mr. Wilson's policy or events
over which his policy was powerless took |
US to tho brink of war last winter, and
its spinelessness Is largely responsible |
for the presence on this side OF the ocean |
OF a German submarine. whose activities
are liable any day TO bring about a sit |
uation which cannot be tolerated II we |
would maintain our self.respect as a
nation.
Nobody wants war. but what is Mr..
Wilson going to do II Germany treats
as though they had not been made our
emphatic protests against frightfulness
in submarine warfare and our declara.
tions that we shall omit no word or deed
to make our protests efectiveH