The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-09-30
SPEECH OF HON. EDWIN
WILLITTS,
AT THE 18TH ANNUAL REUNION OF
THE 18TH MICHIGAN INfANT.
RY, AT DUNDEE. MICH.

passes statutes, but that il settles qUes-
tions in controversy-questio that con-
vey letters OF the law--matters that San
not or do not take the form Of legal
enactment. There is distinction be-
tween "war Legislation" technically so
called, aud "the legislation Of war. -
The former is the statute passed, the law
fundamental or otherwise, agreed upon
by the supreme Legislature, or the SOW
erign people, as necessary to be put in
TO tangible form. The latter reaches
out into the grand forum OF public sen
timent before which kings bow, and in
whose contexts law rs silent
There is a logic in all wars not meas
ured by proclamations nor set down in
statutes. nor established in treaties. -
Some of the results of war the most
benefcient 20 mankind, and the most
dear to the contestants have been ef-
fectually and forever settled, though
no trace of their settlement can be
found in the blue book, or on the pages
of written laws. The war OF 1912 be-
tween the United States and England,
was fought on the one side 10 enforce,
and on the other 10 resist the alleged
rights OF the latter TO impress American
seaman, aud further 10 settle the ques-
ton OF the rights of commerce in neu-
tral vessels. For three years the young
nation fought over tho issues raised
with the mighty empire on whose do
main the sun never sets, spent her
| blood aud her treasures on scores of
battle fields from the ST. Lawrence TO
| New Orleans, ranging every sea, refus-
ing every compromise and rejecting all
truces unless England would abandon
her pretended rights. And yet the
treaty OF peace finally signed was silent
as to both, ignored both. In that
/ treaty, neither did England agree, nor
/ the United States demand, that the
evils which had been over aud over
again avowed as the primo object OF the
war should be abated. or the alleged
rights given up. The capitol OF the
nation had been captured and its pub
lie buildings burned. The commerce
of New England, for whose rights the
contest had been waged, was nearly de-
stroyed, it's ships rotted at the wharyes,
and the grass was growing IN the
streets of Boston, the commercial EN-
porium OF the nation. Distress and
opposition was every where, so that the
Secretary OF State, 10y the order OF the
President, advised the commissioners
/ TO conclude the treaty without any
stipulation on the point in controversy
II It should appear TO be an impossible
obstacle. And il the face OF these facts
! President Madison congratulated Con-
| gress and the country upon the condi-
tions Of a peace highly honorable 10
the nationl To the man who should
look no further that the treaty proceed
iDgs, the whole matter would seem a
farce had il not been so near tragedy.
But the man who reads history will find
that the war Of 1912 did in fact settle
the question Of the impressment of
American seamen, and went far towards
arranging the terms Of neutral rights
in commerce. The statute books are
silent, but all along the pages OF his
tory Is written the fact that from the
signing of that treaty the hand OF Eng
| lsh power has never been laid upon
the shoulders Of American seamen.-
The logical results Of that war was the
inviolability OF American commerce,
aud the inviolability Of the American
hag nnder which II floats.
The two nations came to an under
Standing there was something under
stood that was not expressed IN the
treaty, to-wit: that American rights
must be respected. IL was understood
that the United States had fixed views
on this subject. and that she would on
occasion fight for them. She might not
be able TO exact a promise, but she
could and would resist any attempted
invasion of these rights. To many,
however, the contest seemed drawn
one.
Now the world has never seen q
drawn battle. History has named many.
so-called. Men on both sides have
slept on their arms in the trenches
they occupied in the morning light
both banners have trailed in the dust,
and both armies have glanced at each
other without yielding, but 10 one ol
the other the absence of victory ia the
pressage of defeat; while 10 is waiting
for the roads 20 dry, Blucher is march
lug mp, the supreme moment has pass
ed, aud the victory is lost.
There Is an under tow OF the tide Oft
times that sweeps human events away
towards the great deep, while the top
most waves seem 10 be setting in shore
The Colonists fought Parliament under
the CRY, God save the King they re
sisted the penny tax ON tea with loyal
ty in their hearts, but their fght
swept them into rebellion and
independence. IL is not given TO man
30 know over what fight shalt begin
nor 20 forsee in what IL shall end; the
first blow may be ia street row n
Lexington, and the last may win capt.
ula,ion at Yorktown.
Every great contest the world hai
ever known bad back Of II generation
of preparations. Events bad been run
ming together from all the rills from
every mountain side till they wer,
gathered into the mighty stream in TIT
valley that sweeps through all barrier
To the ocean. War is "A cOnvulsioI
which is the outbreak OF pent mp force
which nature had been storing 70
ages. Premonitions may be heard, tn
roar of the stream, the rumblings o
volcano, hut men go on with thei
usual avocations. sail and steer thei
crafts on the turbulent waters or oil
their vineyards on the mountain sides
with the hope that all IL yet well, %
will be for their day. Precautions ma
be taken, the storm may be diverted b.
some temporary device, some dclusiv
compromise, but nature Is not fooled
One event does not make history, no
one disagreement war, under and be
hind every national contest we discOve
years of disputatiOn, swaying passion
| and tufbulent wrapgliDO IA a rule
their differences are radical, they ar
not made 10 order. they come not h
design, they are not men OF straw 80
up by machinators behind scenes, bu
they are realities, clothed with armol
animated by vitality and desperate q,
termination. Men are in earnest whe
they come TO blows; they do not 60 I
war for the love OF strife; IL IL parod
, on human nature TO say that man is
fighting being; even animals fight Il
! dominions, or lust, or sustenance. Me
may taste blood az they do powder, br
, il will be gratifying only as il rcpr,
sents power. A cannon ball is not pr'
: jected by powder alone; behind it is a
2 idea far more propulsive that the hit
: black grains Of charcoal, saltpetre an
sulphur. IL il aimed at a counter ids
which II may bit square or miss entir,
: ly, from which II may rebound, wbic
, il may disperse or pass Dy into empi
J space a wasted energy lost ia n
spheres.
King John yielded something, gay
up some of his supposed vested right
: confirmed % him by the. Pope Of Rom
I 49,. l.. .ravfaI a., his r.Inllsar