Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-10-01

/ above all else to be safeguarded by
those Of US who hold the trust of the
people, it goes without saying. but
cannot be too often repeated, is the
manhood of the nation
Nov 1t may appear to you that
have been speaking chiefly in the
negative. l make the admission.
What is more. I might continue to do
so almost indefinitely without disad-
vantage to our cause. So many things
have been done by the present ex-
piring administration that no power
on earth could induce me to do, that
l cannot even attempt to recount
them. 1 may remark casually, how
ever, that If I should be, as / fully
expect to be, elected President of this
just and honorable republic, / will
not empower an assistant secretary
of the navy to draft a constitution
for helpless neighboTs in the West
Indies and jam it down their threats
at the point of a bayonet borne by
United States marines. We have a
higher service for our gallant marines
than that. Nor will / misuse the
power of the executive to cover with
a veil of secrecy repeated acts of IN
warranted interference in domestic
affairs of the little republics Of the
Western hemisphere such as in the
past few years have not only made
enemies of those who should be our
friends, but have rightfully dis
credited our country as their trusted
neighbor.
"On the other hand I will not o.
shall not, as you prefer, submit to
any wrong against any American
citizen, with respect to either his life
or his property, by any government.
This statement is made in all solemn
ity, with enmity for none and friend
ship for all. If it particularly applies
to Mexico, the application has been
directed by the robbery and murder
of hundreds of our own people in
that unhappy country who were law
fully there and were entitled to pro-
lection. One must admit that these
outrages upon Americans are largely
the consequences of the wiggling and
webbing, the supine waiting of our
own government, though the admis-
sion neither helps the hurt, nor gives
the hope of security for the future
while the present administration re-
mains in power, or when one in
complete accord succeeds it.
This admonition is not directed
exclusively toward our next door
neighbor to whom we would gladly
hold forth helping hand, and whom
primarily, certainly in preference to
far0ff peoples in Europe, Asia and
Africa. it is our manifest duty to
serve with whole heart and gen
erous tolerance. 1t is intended for
plain notice to every government
on the face of the earth that the en-
tire resources of this nation are
pladged to maintain the sacredness
of American lives and the just pro-
lection of American properties.
The line of demarcation between
our attitude and that of our political
opponents is perfectly plain. The
president has made his position clear
by his acts no less than by his words.
Twice there came to him an oppor
tunity to obtain ratification at the
hands of the senate and twice he put
the opportunity aside, because he
would not accept reservations de- /
signed solely to safeguard American
rights. He still holds article 10 to
be the heart of the covenant.
$50 does the Democratic platform.
So does the Democratic nominee. To
assume that the nominee would &C
cept the reservations rejected by tn
President and denounced by the party
platform is to impugn his integrity.
To insinuate, as those who in pro-
claiming themselves for the Demo
ratio candidate and the league with
do insinuate that they
would pursue such a course in seek
ng ratification is not to pay him a
but rather to challenge
is sincerity.
For myself I do not question for
moment the truth Of what the
nominee says on this sub .
ect. He has fatty said he is in
avor of going in on the basis an {
ounced by the President am not |
hat is the whole difference between
9, but it is a most vital one. because {
involves the disparity between
orld court of justice supplemented !
y a world association for conference
q the one hand and the council OF !
lie league on the other. L
THE big difference between T
,urt of international justice and the 1
,uncil created by the league coven- o
1t is simple but profound u
The one is a judicial tribunal to II
: governed by fixed and definite II
inciples of law administered with j
1t passion or prejudice. The other n
an association of diplomats and u
,liticians whose determinations are =