Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-24
NO IMPERIALISM
lconfinued from Paaa Qnel

have no secret continents with any
country. 1t has been asserted that
our policies in this hemisphere are
imperialistic. The contrary is readi-
~ shown by our withdrawal from
Santo Domingo and our constant en-
deavors. as illustrated 10y the confer
ence held in Washington of the Cen
trail American republics. to promote
their peace and stability.
1T is charged that this government
is engaged in negotiation concessions
for our citizens. This is untrue. We
maintain the principle Of the open
door. or equality of commercial OPP
portunity, to the end that our citi-
Zens shall not suffer unjust discrim-
nations hut shall have the fair OPP
portunity to which they are entitled.
With this opportunity they make
their own contracts on their own
terms.
Equally futile has been the at
tempt to depreciate our endeavors
which we have made with ratifying
success for the promotion Of peace.
What do our opponents Of the Demo-
cratic party think they will gain by
helittling the Washington conference
on limitation Of armament? Mr..
Davis at the outset saw fit to speak
of the conference as of doubtful va
lue' and later with ill-judsed obser-
vations he referred slightingly to the
naval treaty which the leaders of the
Democratic party had acclaimed In
the senate with the highest praise.
THE president, in recent letter
on Navy Day, observed that under
the agreement we are entitled to
maintain navy equal % that of any
other power Then. Nj Davis, in
voking Ethan Allen and the CONT
mental congress, exclaimed When did
we need an agreement with any pow
er to maintain such a navy as we de-
sired? Does that represent that
spirit and purpose. Of the Democratic
candidate? Is that. then, his atti-
tude toward limitation of arma-
ment. or course, with our resources
we could have built any navy we
pleased if we cared to spend the
money Great Britain and Japan
could also build. and we could each
of us have piled up expenditures for
construction and maintenance of
baleful competition in building the
instruments of naval warfare. But
If you are to have an agreement for
Limitation Of armament, you must
have some standard Of relative
strength. The Washington confer
enca treaty took the existing relative
strength of the three great naval
powers and based the agreement TO
stop competition upon this standard.
This gave us as the president said, a
right to be second to none. For the
first time Great Britain acceded to
a Gcfinite equality with another pow
ec.
1T is constantly apparent that the
center Of attack of our opponents.
with respect to the foreign relations,
is that the government has not jnin-
ed the league of nations. But what
does the Democratic party propose?
Does 1t propose that we should join
the league OF nations? Quite the
contrary. 1t was afraid to do so.
The Democratic Party definitely
proposes that we should not Join the
league of nations until Il mandate
h5t been received from the people f.;
through q referendum to that effect. |
che Democratic candidate has ac-
cepted the platform and he is bound |
by 1t. In view of the circumstances
of it's adoption he has no meal right
to ask for votes on any other basls.
THE Democratic platfOi m calls for
a rcfert ndum. The question Is: shall
the United States become a member
of the league upon such reservations
AMI amendments to the covena at rs
tho president and senate may agree
upon?' Does MIR. DAVIS say what
re. ervations he would :avur? Does
he discuss his platform? He tr.cd
to Isrform the impossible feat Of
stanc I'M: on 1t and running away
from i: at the same time.
ut would seem to ne proper to
take account of the fact that The
league is not an issue In this CAM
raign This is 1924. not 1920. 1t is
appar ent that as this government is