Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-04-02

favor OF seeking opportunities to infame
friendly powers even under the attempt
to establish belligerent condition OF a
/ people who are said to be struggling for
( liberty. am not in favor of melting
war, and | do not think the American
people believe in it.
Mr., President, the struggle OF the
American revolution and the successful
emergence of the colonies from that
revolution and the setting up here OF the
republic of the United States gave to
this country eighty years OF peace, accom-
panied by prosperity that Was the
eNempiar and the wonder OF the world.
The minor conflicts that took place in
those eighty years were so light that they
never touched the life OF the people or Is
conditions snd do not need to he
mentioned. Speaking generally, it was a
time Of profound peace that We had
earned by the American revolution Of
l776. At the end Of that period Of peace
there fell upon the United States con-
tlict vast, 50 appalling that seeyties
who doubted whether the government
could maintain itself almost oyercame in
numb those who believed the United
States could maintain the integrity OF the
republic. But out OF four years q
destructive and devastating war at last
the republic emerged with its standards
floating everyw here over successful bat
tlehelds and rebellion crushed. That
most mighty and superhumsn effort
entities the United States to another
eighty years OF profound peace and pros
perity. No higher wish, no greater BEN
ediction could be invoked upon Us than
that there should follow. as did follow
the American revolution, this period OF
nearly three generations OF peace and the
thrift and prosperity that come with
peace for the United States.
for one have been distur bed and made
anxious by the growth Of hat may call
the aggressive spirit as shown partic
ularly within the last year, not only here
but eisew here, the desire to agrees, the
desire to incite trouble, the desire 10
make difficulties with foreign powers,
the dealing with the discussion the
imagery OF war rat her than OF peace the
turning aside OF the plowshsre and the
pruning hook and giving mems attention
to the sword and rifle. II is what he
books call smilitarism." and | for one
deprecate il. 1t is unsound in its foun-
dation. It Is dangerous plant. 1t has
but one result. " hen militarism takes
possession OF the mind and OF the mag
nation OF great, powerful, chlyalrIc
people there is but one resu!t-it absor b.
all other things. The interests and the
arts OF peace become neglected, and The
attention and the ambitions OF men are
directed in anoth line, and some day
other, no matter whether ii be republic
or what il be. people dominated by
milltarlsm are open TO the grasp of The
strong hand of some great military
1hieitain.
do not believe that this is present TO
us As near danger, but certainly the
events OF the last few months were well
described by the senior senator from
Massac husetts Mr.. HoarJ in one OF those
trenchant phrases with which he Is in
the habit OF entertaining US. when he sa i'd
that every morning somebody feels that
he ought to fire off loaded cannon
i
Iieye the good sense OF the American
people will assert itself 1t will show
that 1t loves peace-this people-and not
war. SO, Notwithstanding the danger
that am trying to avert, notwithstand-
ing war stands in my mind as a possible
danger, believe that We shall come out
OF It Without war, and that there Viii be
tns
prosperity that We deserve.
We have many things that Congress
should turn it, attention to besides
foreign affairs. Under the leadership OF
some OF the oldest and hitherto most
conservative senators We have gwen large
attention To foreign complications in he
present Congress. | do not believe that
TINS i gong to obtain in The future. /
believe that the American honor will
always he asserted. | believe that every
doctrine hat i necessary for our preser-
wilton great nation and which j.
necessary to patriotism and to love Of
liberty VII he asserted ana maintained
with Cslmness and serious strength
That y impress every foreign power, SO
that there never Will be need for var.
DO not e2p.e, 10 see, or that anyone here
VIII See. War.
Mr.. President, IN looking at thi. bright
future H. forecast IT for tire Emitted
States, think Of that magnificent
apo-trophy To peace which Shakespeare
puts into the mouth Of Archbishop
CraumeF when be predicted the future
n ls. F.4 i.l b.,