The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-12

every honorable means has never ap-
pealed to the sordid greed of imper-
ialism and conquest, and 1t never will.
But it is an American policy honored
by many examples and firmly estab-
lished by wealth of precedent. And
Uncle Sam is big enough and strong
enough and firm enough that he needs
no self appointed apologists to justify
that course.
Woodrow Wilson is not the first
illustrious target for the j:bes and
taunts of these self constituted de-
tenders of the national honor They
reviled Washington in language which
he said could scarcely be al piled TO
a Nero, to notorious de:ariter, or
even to a common pickpocket." JET
ferson and Madison endured their In.
sectile assaults. Lincoln was cruel
| fed with their insults and ospersion5.
and the martyred Mckinley, because
/ he used every honorable means to
avert the war with Spain, was ex.
crutiated with criticism and ptllorie1
with calumny.
Those who have endured the sting
Of unjust censure are enrolled with
the immortal great; their detractors
have been consigned to everlasting
execration.
Mexican Policy Firm.
The Administrations Mexican pol
lev is firm enough for those who re-
spect the sovereignty Of an afflicted
neighbor and who do not covet his
land. 1t is not firm enough for the
plundering Robin Hoods and ruthless
free hooters whose appetites are
whetted for the spoils of conquest.
A little over a month ago l stood
with an immense throng of people at
the little railroad station down in my
native town Of Keokuk. The boys OF
Company L were responding to their
country's call. Fathers and mothers,
sisters and sweethearts with tear
stained eyes were bidding them good
bye. AS the train drew away from
the station and flags and handker-
chiefs were waving in the air, there
was a certain comfort in the thought
that back of those boys end back OF
all the other brave lads that were
departing, stood q president who
holds human life higher than pelf and
the heart aches of mothers higher
than the interest Of syndicates.
And l believe that those fathers
and mothers who followed their boys
through glistening eyes until the last
coach disappeared behind the hills
I believe that their hearts were a
little lighter and their hopes little
higher because the fate Of the COM
pany was in the hands OF Woodrow
Wilson.
In the summer Of 1864 President
Lincoln despaired of his reelection.
His supporters had seen the cause
of the union endangered by the sue
cess of confederate arms. They ap-
preached the election with grave con-
Germ and many misgivings. They
feared that the American people d1d
not understand the patient, homely
| man who had persevered IN the race
of reverse, disaster and calamity. But
when the people spoke the critic was
disarmed the tongue of SANDER was
silenced and the marplot and obstruc-
ZIONIST became the object OF unlver-
| sal scorn.
| The same sinister forces are at
work in this country today. Assailed
upon the one hand by the Iacifist and
upon the other by the hot spur; con-
, demued by some for his 6rmness and
by others for irresolution. the presi-
dent has wisely avoided tho errors OF
both and with the masterful hand OF
a great captain, is steering the coun-
| try to a haven of peace and port
of honor.
| "The mower mows on, though the
adder may writhe,
And the copperhead coilei around the
blade of his scythe."
The people of this country have
never snapped horses while crossing
a stream. They have never rebuked
a faithful servant to satisfy political
opportunists. In this year fraught with
serious international difficulties, the
American people are not going to re-
pudiate the triumphs If diplomacy
and espouse policy of violence.
They will not desert ship that has
carried them safely through the
troubled waters of critical days. They