Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-01-28
Senator Borah AS A
Presidential Possibility

In less imam nine months Jlfne the
country will be at the threshold of a
presidential election. Within a year
the struggle will have ended and the
stamp of the peoples approval or
stigma will have been put upon the
Wilson administration. The cam
paign will be an important one, the
very next in Importance to the Lin
coin campaigns of so years ago. I'm
like those remarkable campaigns the
issues will bear directly on our for
eign policies. 1t is not at all likely
any Of the so-called domestic ques-
tons, such as the tariff, the navy,
the army and the incidental legisla-
ton affecting appropriations, reve-
nues and so forth will be considered
independent Of our relations with for
"eign countries, principally European
countries, and the chances of war.
Granting this to be true the coun-
try will be called upon for the first
time in our modern history to make
choice Of presidential candidates and
parties equally wise and strong in
the solution of international problems
sof intense local concern.
The moment we got into the con-
;stellation Of world powers by reason
of the Spanish-American war we
ceased to be free from the possibili-
ty of entangling alliances, against
which Washington and his cabinet
so earnestly warned the nation. That
interference with the political abuses
of a foreign nation, albeit magnani-
nous on our part, committed us to
AN attitude and a relation toward
other nations out of which dangers
are now far more apt to arise than
before that interposition. This is
natural, and was no doubt fully COM
pretended by the statesmen who
urged the Spanish-American war.
do not think the most careful
study of the political history of our
country will disclose a period when
the country needed president of the
high order of craftsmanship as the
present period. Our next president
should be a man who has not only
read the famous farewell address OF
or first president but understands its
spirit, its full Importance and in
1huence upon our destinies. This re-
markable paper was published 12C
years ago, yet it has lost nothing OF
its logic and practical wisdom dur
ing that time. 1t is as true today
as when Washington said: "The
great rule of conduct for us in regard
to foreign nations is, in extending
our commercial relations to have with
them as little political connection al
possible. So far as we have already
formed engagements let them be full
filled with perfect good faith. Her,
let us stop. Europe has a set O.
primary interests which to US hav,
none or a very remote relation. Henc,
she must be engaged in frequent con
troversies, the causes Of which ar,
essentially foreign to our concerns
Hence, therefore, it must be unwis
i'm us TO implicate ourselves by arti
fetal ties in the ordinary vicissitude
OF her politics or the ordinary com
binations and collisions Of he
friendships and enmities"
AT a time when all Europe i
sflame with the horrors Of an un
precedented war this admonition be
comes invaluable. The longer tn
European war lasts the greater tn
temptation to forget this great neu
trail principle. The political leade
OF the country ought to know tn
wisdom of such policy and be en-
dowed with adequate strength to en-
force it to the limit Till hostilitie
are at an end our president and 9th
ers high in official positions shoul,
know neither allies nor Germans
Washington's genuine policy of neu
trality it the true one for us a
this time.
1t is foregone conclusion that tn
democratic party will again nominat
Mr.. Wilson. That means that tina
party will go before the people on
platform approving the Wilson polio,
in Europe and in Mexico. 1t will
necessitate a platform endorsing tn
Wilson tariff, the currency and al
other local measures.
The republican party will enter tn
contest advocating a code Of prin
ciples in direct conflict with these
do not think either the democratic
revenue measures or the democrati
foreign policy will be paramount
We shall hear as much about the on
as the other and we shall hear am
pie about both on the stump and il
the press.
While it is comparatively easy t.
forecast the platform and candidate
of the democratic party the selection
of the republican candidate for presi
dent, as yet, is shrouded in doubt