Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-27
The Danger of Hughes
In Foreign Affairs.

one reason why thoughtful Americans support
President Wilson is their perception of the fact
that If he should be defeated the interval between
November and March would be a period of dan
gerous confusion in the nations diplomatic affairs
For nearly four months the United States would
be virtually rudderess far its foreign policies
were concerned. An administration which had been
served at the polls with notice of its discharge
would not impress foreign Governments as compe-
tent or authorized to speak the countrys mind In
deed they might regard all the major policies for
which that administration has stood as having been
repudiated by the American people Thus the SUD-
marine issue, the Mexican problem, the neutrality
question and all the larger aspects of our outside
relations would be overloaded and would remain
so from early November until March, 1914 gap
in which grave crises might arise
The fact that nearly four months elapse be-
tween the election and the Inauguration of the
President of the United States is ordinarily of no
moment to the countrys foreign relations, because
ordinarily the foreign policies of President are
not likely to be uprooted and flung aside by his
successor Heretofore the uppermost issues in
American politics have concerned domestic mat
ters but this year they hinge on foreign affairs.
Mr. Hughes campaign is a wholesale attack on ev-
erything the Wilson administration has done and
everything it stands for in respect to Mexico and
Europe Presumably, therefore, if the Republican
candidate is elected he will undertake radical
changes in the nations foreign dealings True, he
has never said what he would have done had he
been confronted with the problems which have be-
set the Wilson Administration or what he would
do in similar emergencies if he should be elected
But unless his utterances wholly nsincere it is
his purpose to the Wilson policies if he has
a chance.
Naturally, then, foreign governments would in
terprer Republican victory November as
reputation of the course which American diplo-
macy has pursued during the past three and half
years Just how the extremists in Germany
would interpret it may be inferred from the atti-
tude and of the Hyphen press in America. Says
the Illinois Staats-Zeitung typical organ of the
Hyphen clan:
1T is a mistake to say that the whole
United States makes the President. We
certain that in the States that make
the President the German influence in
the next Presidential election will GER
tainly amount to twenty-seven per cent
of the votes cast Now since We believe with
him CHughesl that for long time foreign
relations in regard to rights and duties
have steered along a dangerous course and
since we are convinced that Mr.. Hughes will
map out a new course for the country with
reference to our rights and duties, course
that will bring us honor-for this
are going contribute to the election of the
Republican candidate"
That is but one among scores and hundreds of
similar expressions which reveal the Hyphen
spiracy behind Mr.. Hughes and which indicate the
rejoicing that Republican victory would bring
to the monarchy which the Hyphens q.
The German-American Alliance is fighting Pres
ident Wilson because he did not yield to it's demand
for an embargo the sale of American munitions
and other war supplies to the Entente Powers be-
cause he brought the Kaisers Government to terms
of law and humanity in the submarine issue and
because he insisted upon the right of Americans
10 travel in peaceful vessels, begerent or other
wise, when Germany threatened renewal of ruth
less submarine warfare. The German-American
Alliance is supporting Mr.. Hughes because it be-
lieves that he will reverse or, at least, greatly
modify the Wilson policies in those respects if he
should be elected. There suspicious evidences
of a positive agreement between Republican cam
paign managers and the Hyphen organization.
Whether or not that be true, it is a manifest and
very significant fact that Mr.. Hughes himself never
yet has said what his policy President would be
concerning embargo on the shipment of AmerS
can munitions to the Allies or what it would be
concerning the right of Americans TO travel
merchantmen owned by belligerents. Nor has he
said with any degree of explicitness how he would
have dealt or would deal in the future with the
submarine question.
II, then. Mr. Hughes should be elected, would
il be at all surprising If the German Government
considered itself longer practically bound to its
pledges to the United States under the Wilson Adj
ministration? Would it be at all surprising if any
OF the warning nations considered the interval be-
tween November z and March as period in which
the foreign policies of the United States neb-
ulous and Intellectual and, therefore lightly be
treated? The confusion and danger thus possible
are apparent. break in the nations diplomatic
principles and conduct at this juncture would be
a peril which thoughtful American can contem-
plate without grave misgivings.