The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-26
no COMPREHENSIVE WAR
Meeting of Universal
Peace Union.
Stirring Address By William Lloyd
Garrison
Imperialist's Avalanche
Will Bury Them.
Some of the Problems the War
VIII Leave.

Mystic, Conn, August 25.--Fuily 1000
persons attended the third days so sion
OF the annual meeting of Universal
society in the Peace temple here today.
At the morning session President Love
delivered brief address or the Philip
pine situation. Other addresses were by
j. II. Karl of Boston, Mrs. Comepys of
Philadelphia and Mrs. Hannah White Of
Lebanon.
At this afternoons session the prlnci-
pal address was by william Lloyd Garri-
son, who took for his theme "No Com
premise with war " He saii, in part:
A year ago, when In the interest of
peace we met upon this spot, the war
with Spain was in full blast. Then, In
the national eye, q Spaniard was the
type OF treachery and oppression. With
out evidence enough to convict shop-
litter, the destruction of tire Maine was
assumed to be the work of designing
Spaniards, and only an ex-parte exami
nation allowed. The sorrows of the
suffering Gubans filled our hearts. and
he who would not shout for "Cuba
Libre" was held to be wanting in human
ity. To question the motives or the
means by which q cruel war was forced
upon the county WAS to lack patriotism
and to aympathize with treason.
WHAT IA space twelve month coversl
Last years thoughts, feelings, avowed
purposes, are az much ont of place today
as the stage coach of our fathers. The
Spanisrd is no longer monster, but re-
spected as a brave and gallant foe. Ger.
vera, whose terribla name affrighted the
Atlantic sea coast and depopulated the
summer hotel, has been honored with an
invitation by the imperial city of Chiua-
go to become Its guest when Admiral
Dewey receives Its contemplated homage
The Cubans. then models of patriotism
and valor, have had their pedestal re.
moved to hold up other heroes, and the
mention of their name, which sent ardi-
ences into convulsive enthusiasm last
August. has lost it's power 10 galvnnize
u single cheer. Then they were patriots
and statesmen; now, in the opinion of
military experts and politicians, they are
people incapable ofRo garning themselves
The whirlgig Of time never eoliI ssd this
record. No one weeps over the reconcen-
TRADES except their surviving relatives.
Our lavish contributions OF food were
exchanged for q blockade to keep food
from the island. Those starving victims
of Spanish wrong were by the act of their
American rescuers soon put beyond the
need of any sustenRnce. Had a single
orator at your last meeting dared to epeas
disrespeetfully of the Constitution and
the Declaration of Independence the
press of the land would have denounced
the offender.
Today our license is unabridged. We
may abuse Washington. Jefferson and
Lincoln without rebuke. They were good
| men for their time. but thor doctrine Is
outgrown and dangerous. MeddIIng with
foreign quarrels is simply "a larger
Amsrioanism;" men are no longer Gre
ated free and equal, and have no inalien-
| able rights to sIeak of; a government
| for people is still in order, bit n govern
ment of the people and bv the people is
| a pestilent heresy. Morality kicks the
beam when comnercialism is placed in
the opposite scale. The Anerican who
thought he knew himself last year is dis
covering that he was acquainted only
with stranger. a war with the Geyice
of freedom and chivalry on Its banners
has developed into conflict for conquest
and baseness. And not unnatlrally, for,
as we diseerned, last year, under the
disguise of humanity the cohorts OF
spoliation and barbarism Ind mustered
The same voices utter ths words of
command, the same figures marshal the
soldiers CT the Union the way that they
| are going.
because this transformation has been
| so rapid, this revul9ion of public senti.
ment apparently so unanimous, tho ma
| ton, dazed by the march of events, lie
| vainly trying to persuade Itself that the
step toward empire is irrevocabie. As
usual, when a blunder or IA crime has
teen committed. thers stands ready
| Providence upon which 10 shoulder the
blame. Pulpits that last August had not
tn s remotest inEling of the trend events
were taking now claim an intimate &C.
quaintance with divine plans implying
either special revelation or previons
knowledge concealed with mastery sue
cess. Borrowing Lady Maebeth's ex-
cuse
II am In blood
stepp'd In 50 far that should I wads no
more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er''
the administration and its supporters are
over-anxious to convince the people that
the die Is cast, the decree irreversible.
| We are here to affirm that the record Ii
not yet CLOSED; that Charles Summers dec
laration "Notbing can be settled that is
not settled right" still remains tru-
ism, against which no political party
Gun prevail; that TO assume that the peo-
pie of the United States are for territori-
al robbery, criminal aggression on a
weaker nation, commercial greed and a
home government supported by bayonets,
before full and free discussion and UNI
tfammeled vote are had, Is TO lihel the
| American citizen and 10 assume that