Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-10-01
PUBLIC LAW VS..
LAW OF SWORD
What Senator Lodge Has to Say About
Conditions In Europe.

New York Cor Boston TranscriptJ
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, return
Ing on the Olympic to-day from stay
in England lasting since June during
which he had exceptional opportunities
to inform himself, declared that the al
lies believe they are fighting for public
law against the law of sword. that they
Will fight till their purpose is accomplish
ed and that any promotion by our gov
eminent Of what he calls the pretended
peace talk of German agents at this time
would be ridiculous. He speaks impress
sively on the point that should Germany
win she will not only dominate Europe,
but endeavor to conquer other parts of
the world. No speedy peace is to be ex-
pected and things in Europe can never
in any event be what they were in July
I Senator Lodge said:
81 am chiefly Interested in having Uni
ted States maintain a strict neutrality
which Is not relaxed at one point to help
one belligcrent and frightened at another
point to harm another belllgerent hut
a neutrality which is absolutely honest
and equally rigid toward all belligerents
The time may come | hope it will come,
when our good Offices may he effectively
used for the restoration Of peace. but that
time has not yet come.
The talk about peace Just now is or
iginatcd by German agents for the pur-
pose Of affecting public opinion here and
elsewhere There is no reality to 1t and
If our government permits itself to 6e
used at this time by originators of this
itself ridiculous. but what IS far worse
It-hi CHI n no Of
great value at the right moment will be
crippled and weakened
81 take no side, I advocate no cause, in
saying this. hut we ought to look facts
In the face; we must eliminate from our
minds once for all any idea of a speedy
peace which will leave everything in the
same condition as existed in July; that
will never he Either Germany will win
or tho allies: either Germany will dictate
the terms of peace or the allies will.
There will he no halfway about It.
"If Germany conquers France England
and Russia she will dominate Europe and
will subsequently extend that domination,
If sho can. to the rest of tho world Great
Britain and Ireland France and Belgium
believe that they are lighting the battle
of freedom and democracy against mill
I
lie law against the law of the sword and
! for the rights Of small nations to exist.
! Russia believes that she is fighting
against German domination and for the
freedom and rights of Slavic populations
everywhere. AL the allies are determined
that they will put an end to the cond-
lions which make the hideous calamity Of
this war possible. They will fight on un-
til the purpose Is accomplished.
These are the plain facts and we had
better look them in the face. 1t is for
us to maintain orr neutrality and at the
right moment use all our influence for a
! peace that will be lasting and which will
bring with 1t a general reduction of ar
maments No other peace will be worth
| having"
Senator Lodge went 10 England in early
summer on a trip of ccnvalescene. He
| was about to continue on to Franco when
war broke. He now appears quite hale
again and in keen and eager spirit.