The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-07

had during this administration HAS
been the direct result Of the admlnlS-
lration policies. So far as giving 10
Mr.. Wilson the credit for Keeping the
I'uitrI States out of war Is concerned,
| tell YOU that more Than once. 4 nave
trembled because We were on tne very
brink of war. Yesterday and again
to-day enjoyed pleasant tours
through some of this beautiful sectloR
of West Virginia. and we drove over
roads which led Us along the brlhh Oh
dangerous looking cliffs. Suppose the
driver had pretty nearly preclpltaleu
US over the brink just as nearly as ne
could 10 get past the clltls 1T all men
said / kept you from going over. GlEe
me another chance. do you lhlnk
would ask 10 have him drive me along
another dangerous road! NO! want
and so 90 you, a driver that VIII Keep
to the side of the road farthest from
the dangerous brink.
Uncertainty Means War.
The vacillating, uncertain, tImld
policies of President Wilson nave uone
moro 10 plunge Us into the dangers Oh
war than all of the other dltticultles
that have arisen during the four years
OF his administrator. Words carry
little weight when the world learns
that those words mean nOthlng. Scold-
ing notes irritate more than nrm, quiet
action. We have grown accustomed
To the unmeaut words, The sGolulnS
notes and the humiliation that has
been heaped upon us because W the
QiSreSpect for US. because ot the Vacil-
lating, tiluid uncertainty OF those wao
control the government.
Tell me. What European natlrn
wants war with the United States AT
this time Of mighty conflict, that re-
QuireS special skill on the part pt IN"
President 10 keep Us out OF war! Are
the nations of Europe seeking 10 stir
up strife and trouble, 10 force war
with this country: Or have they all
the war they want?
There has never been time when
the United States government had l.
better chance TO secure Il fair settle
menl on 4 reasonable demand CT all
its. foreign controversies than the PROS
ent time. The United States does mt
want 10 take advantage Of the Gilela.
ina OF any belligerent to squeeze II
for hard bargain. But even if we
did, Germany, England Russia, France
or any other country engaged in taG
conflict across the water has all thai
il can handle and would not do q single
thing TO add 10 its burden Of war now.
Adjustment Only Postponed
But adjustment Of every controvcr.
sy the United States has had during
the almost four yc;r;S paSI has been
postponed. Nothing has been concluG-
[ q. Controversies 30 on accommodating
and when the European war Is over,
the beligrrenL nations will be stripped
Tor the fray and in better fighting
trim than ever before. That was DEM
onStraled in our own case soon alter
the civil war closed. When Napoleon
III sent hosts OF French troops 10 Mex
leo to establish 4 French empire in
the country south Of us We were help.
less to oppose such an action while
our own land was engaged in civil
strife. But the Civil war ended, as all
wars must end, and, some then, as
believe will be the case with
the European armies, thought that
our fighting force was exhausted, oul
we had million men under arms
trained for and hardened TO war.
When our army was sent TO the Dor
der the president renewed his re-
nuest that Napoleon III withdraw his
troops from Mexico and out they went.
We were in better trim for war then
than we ever were before or since.
So it will be with the nations OF Eu"
rope and if the United States goes on
allowing controversies TO accumulate
then the danger OF war will be great
and we will need man 10 keep us out
of war. And he ought not to De
wobbler who is on one side OF ques-
ton today and On the other side TO-
morrow.
Can't Stand by Wilson.
THE Democrats plead with US TO
stand by Wilson. How in the name
of common sense can we stand by a
man who won't stand still, How can
we 20 with a man when we don
know where he is or where he IS
going?
Il believe that there should be an
other policy; one that will guarantee
10 all neutrals all OF their rights. We
ought moi TO have a policy Of scold-
ing, but policy of firmneSs backing
honesty. Let it be known to the world
that we stand for fair things and we
will get them. But there is not now
L nation in Europe that would attempt
war with the United States. Not be.
cause we have all the preparedness
we need, but because OF the vast re-
sources at our command. We are in no
danger OF war with any European
country now.
This war probably will not last
more than Il year or two longer. Then
we will need man TO keep us out of
war, not by blutfinG, but by nothing
more than showing the world that we
intend to back honest words by firm
deeds, II need be. But with man Of
that type al the head of this govern
ment. the need will never be. BE fair,
be firm, but don't try to sit as the
moral censor Of the world 1t cant
be settled that way. No nation in
Europe seeks war with us now and
none but would do all in its power 10
keep out Of war with US. We will
have no trouble with Europe it. we
demonstrate that we mean TO enforce
demands that are right.
Mexican Situation.
Let Us now turn from Europe TO
the Mexican situation. Eight days
after he was inaugurateG president,
Mr.. Wilson announced his policy
toward Mexico. That purpose he has
followed luoSt perSiStcnlly, but his
methods have been varying and tor
tuous. On March II. 1918. President
WILSON issued Il statement of his
Mexican policy that WAS thought im-
portant tc be cablcd to he American
ambassadors to foreign Countries
(Here the speaker read the presi-
dents statement Of his Mexican pol
icy in whiCn Mr. Wilson stated in cr-
feet that this government can have no
with those who seek 10
seize the power Of government TO adj
vance their own personal interests,
and that he was convinced that from