The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1916. THE TWO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2801, 20 June 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1916. THE TWO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

h .noj scems .dcar that the United States Presidential election will take the iorm of a straight-out contest between Judge Hughes, tho Republican candidate, and Me. Wilson, ihe /Democratic nomineo. J. lie election takes place at a critical juncture. Never was tho need for great leadership more urgent than at the present moment, and it is quite possible that history may regard tho Presidential contest of 1916 as one of the outstanding events in American history. It is asserted that Judge Hughes is to havo the combined support of tlie Progressives and •Republicans. If so, Mr. Wilson will find in him a very powerful,-opponent. Tho preparations for the great political battle, which will be decided in November next, are now in full swing, 'and-the civilised world will await the result . with intense interest. The war is'having such a disturbing influence on American politics < that little reliance can be placed ;upon the ordinary methods of estimating the strength of the two main parties in the country. Oil this occasion domestic questions will play a secondary, part. Foreign policy will probably prove the deciding factor. _ Many thousands of Americans will cast their votes, not as Republicans or Democrats, but in accordance with their war sympathies. President Wilson's vacillating foreign policy is undoubtedly out of, harmony with th,e sentiments of a very large and influential section of the people. They rightly feel that the failure of his efforts to restrain German -lawlessness and to protect the lives of American citizens while on the high' seas attending to lawful business in a lawful way has seriously damaged tho nation's prestige. "Whatever else you may say about Wilson, he has kept the country out of -war." This, says the New York Outlook, is the popular summary of PeesidentWilson's foreign policy. His aim has been to keep out of trouble at all costs. It has been galling to tho best class of American citizens to watch their Government playing for safety at a; time when tne foundations of civilisation are in jeopardy. The Outlook gives expression to the views of probably the majority of Americans when it states that Pre-' sident Wilson's policy of avoiding trouble.has been a policy of evading duty.

Owing . to his position on the Supreme ' Court Bench Judge Hughes has' had few opportunities of giving expression to his opinions on the various aspects of national policy, but now that he has ; accepted nomination as the Republican candidate he will no doubt make his attitude quite clear. Indeed, ho has already said enough to indicate that he would take a , firmer and surer grip of foreign affairs than' Mr. Wilson has ever had. in stigmatising Mr. "Wilson's Mexican policy as weak and vacillating, ho practically commits himself to a strong and consistent course of action. He has expressed, a desire to see American diplomacy restored to the 'best standard, and ho advocates undivided Americanism and thorough preparedness. Both sides declare that they are opposed to German-American activities; but Mn. Wilson's professions must be judged by his actions. His efforts to suppress tho plots and outrages of German agents havo been halfhearted and in many respects _ in-

effective. He has spoken very boldly at times, but Germans simply laugh at strong words and high sentiments unless they are backed up by action. Expedience has convinced them that President Wilson will submit to almost anything rather than go to war, and this is why Washington has been continually flouted by Berlin. And yet Mr. Wilson solemnly informed tho graduates at West Point Academy that tho United States must be prepared so that mankind would know that when America spoke she meant what sho said. As a matter of fact mankind has been forced by the feebleness and uncertainty of Mr. Wilson's own policy to the conclusion that America does not mean what she says. The general opinion seems to bo that Judge Hughes would prove a better match than Me. Wilson for the Teutonic propaganda and tho tricky diplomacy of p3erlin. Tho fact that he is to receive tho support of Mr. RooseVelt may bo taken as an indication that his sympathies, broadly speaking, are with the cause of tho Allies, and that he will not be. afraid to take extreme measures, if such should become necessary. In an address to the Allied nations, signed by'five hundred prominent citizens of the United States (including 212 presidents of universities and professors, 32 Bishops, 27 Judges, and distinguished lawyers, many leading scientists, writers, 1 business men, and politicians), it is stated that in the face of tho great moral involved in tho' war tho American conscience cannot remain silent, nor cafi it run the,ri.sk of appearing to be neutral-minded without injury to its integrity and solf-respeet. "Even as we have always (so runs tho address) held ourselves as a nation free to express openly our sympathies with people struggling for their liberties,- so now we havo the duty of at least making clear our solidarity of sentiment with those who aro struggling to presorvo the liberties' of the world and tho highest ideals of civilisation." If such views as these are to find practical expression in tho foreign policy of America a stronger man than President Wilson will have to be placed at tho head of affairs. - • '