The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
MIR. BUCHANAN AND THE WAR
OF 1912

| duced speech MAGE ny AF- Duclandn oI
the 4th of July, 1915, in condemnation OF
the Administration that conducted the War
of 1912, but however ohjectional some OF
Mr.. BIS sentiments may be, we think (says
the Washington Union) the objection is
made with an exceedingly i'll grace by those
who are daily giving utterance to opinions
and doctrines far more unPatr!otic and un-
American than anything to be found in that
speech. Mr.. Buchanan's position and
course in the war of 1912 have one redeem
ing feature which cannot be found in the
present position and course of his assail-
ants. He was opposed to the policy
of the war, and censured tho admin
istration for its mode of conducting it; but
after the war was declared, he manifested
his devotion to his country by shouldering
his muske: and marching to its defence
! Like thousands of true patriots of that day,
| Mr.. Buchanan differed with Mr.. Madisoa's
administration as to its war policy, but his
! Leart and soul were with his country, and
I he was ready to risk his life in its defence.
| He never belonged to that other class of
! opponents of the war who kept up their op-
position, and gave aid and comfort to the
enemy, after the war declared. Mr..
Buchanan's assailants occupy position at
the present time which has u striking par
allel in the conduct of that unpatriotic class
of opponents of the war of 1912, who COW
cred their names with infamy by the SYM
pathy which they manifested for the enemy.
But it is not our purpose to dignity this
stale charge against Mr.. Buchanan by an
elaborate defence. He had the magnanimi-
ty, soon after the speech was made, to ac-
knowledge the error of the sentiments it
contained, and to retract them; and now
for more than thirty years, he has devoted
| his talents and his energies to those great
democratic principles on which rest the
continually increasing prosperity and glory
Of the country. To show how ready Mr..
Buchanan has ever been to retract an erro-
neous opinion, as we'll as his frmness and
fearlessness in maintaining his position
when he believed it to be right, we have
obtained permission of Hon. George w
Jones, of Tennessee, to publish letter
written to him in 1947 by Mr.. Buchanan,
which will place this anti-war charge in its
true light. Mr.. Buchanan was, at the date
of the letter, member Of Mr.. Folks cabi-
net, and in the canvass in Tennessee Mr..
Polk was assaifed for appointing to so ele-
waited position man who had opposed the
war of 1912. Mr.. Jones addressed letter
to Mr.. Buchanan, asking him for the facts
in connection with the charge. To this let
ter Mr.. Buchanan gave the following frank
and patriotic reply, which Mr.. Jones has
allowed us TO publish:
WAsHINGTON, April %, 1917. -
My DEAR SIR - have this moment re-
ceived your letter of the 18th instant, and
hasten an answer.
in one respect l have been fortunate as
public man. My political enemies are
obliged to go back for more than thirty
years to find plausible charges against me.
In 1914, when a very young man, being
this day So years of age, l made my first
public speech before meeting of my fell
low-citizens of Lancaster. The object of
this speech was to urge upon them the duty
of volunteering their service in defence of
their invaded country. A volunteer COM
pany was raised upon the spot, in which |
was the first, believe, to enter nv name
as private. We forthwith proceeded to
Baltimore, and served until we were honor
ably discharged.
In October, 1914, Twas elected a member
of the Pennsylvania Legislature; and in that
body gave my support to every measure
calculated in my opinion to aid the coun-
try against the common enemy.
In 1915, after peace had been concluded,
did express opinions in relation to the
causes and conduct of the war, which |
very soon after regretted and recalled
Since that period have been a member of
the House of Representatives, and an equal
time of the Senate, acting part on every
great question. My political enemies, find
ing nothing asSailable throughout this long
public career, now resort back to my youth
full years for expression to njure my politi-
cal character. The brave and generous
citizens of Tennessee, to whatever political
party they may belong, will agree that this
is hard measure of Justice; and it is still
harder that, for this, they should condemn
the President for having voluntarily offered
me a seat in his cabinet
Inever deemed it proper, at any period
of my life, whilst the country was actually
engaged in war with a foreign enemy, to
utter sentiment which could interfere with
its successful prosecution. Whilst the war
with Great Britain was raging, l should
have deemed it but little better than moral
treason TO paralyze the arm of government
whilst dealing blows against the enemy
After peace was concluded, the case was
then different. My enemies cannot point
to an expression uttered by me, during the
continuance of the war, which was not ia
vorable to its vigorous prosecution.