The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-06
MR.. ROOSEVELT AND THE FACTS

very wild over the fulminations of one
Theodore Roosevelt. now fortunately
an ex-president of the United States,
with respect to the shortcomings of
the Wilson administration as regards
the European war. Mr. Roosevelt has
been writing 4 series OF articles for q
syndicate. in which he has taken time,
between filings at the peace treaties
negotiated through the influence Of
Mr.. Bryan. to criticise Mr.. Wilson for
not having taken action at the begin
ming OF the war which would undoubt-
edly have drawn the United States
into the conflict without any possible
hope Of benefit or glory. Declaring
"unlawful" certain acts ol war, such
as Germany's invasion of Belgium.
Englnnd's destruction of German
vessel in Spanish weters, and Japan's
ling Kiao-Chau, and 80 forth. Mr..
=, Uoseveit has declared that the Unit
ed States should take action In all
these cases." that II we had an In
telligent and resolute President and
Secretary Of State. they would have
taken action on July 29. 80. or 81.
certainly not later than August l."
Such q President and Secretary Of
State. he has declared. instead OF OBJ
serving "a timid and spiritless new
trality." would have lived up to our
obligations by taking action" and
would have done what we were SOL
emnly bound to do"
The obligations" to which Mr..
Roosevelt 30 solemnly and emphati-
cally refers-the obligations which
were so strong that they should have
moved the President to take action"
which would have plunged the Unit
ed States into the war that has horri-
fed the world-are the obligations"
OF The Hague conventions, to which
the ex-president proudly refers as
having been entered into while he
was President.
Mr.. william Bayard Hale. who is
one of the greatest journalists in this
or any other country. thus remarks
concerning Mr.. Roosevelt's grave
charges OF breach Of faith by this
country:
"Thus rashly and violently writes
Mr.. Roosevelt. ignorant or the fact
that The Hague rules regarding neu-
trality, regarding mines, regarding
everything which troubles Mr.. Roose-
velt and saddens US oil, have never
been ratified by Great Britain. nor by
France, nor by Belgium. and that by
their own provisions these articles are
binding only II ratified by all belli-
gerents; ignorant likewise of the fact
that the United States, In ratifying
certain Of The Hague rules. added the
express stipulation that the action
was not to be taken az involving this
egovernment In any way In an obllga-
ton TO enforce their observance on
other powers, snatching up the vagu-
est notions current among street-cor-
ner idlers concerning the laws OF war
and the rights and duties OF nations,
forgetful or the grave res,.ts thst
would follow our Intervention; indif-
ferent to the welfare of the hundreds
OF millions OF our own kindred; neg
lectful of the true duties OF neutral
ity. and. above all, sublimely super
Tor to the difficulty Of ascertainipg
the truth and Judging righteous 1rug-
ment amid the whirlwind OF rumor.
charge. and counter charge; this man
would have the United States govern
ment step into the ring as the referee
OF the fight, laying down rules and
breaking heads all around to enforce
them. 'o.. true course" he eyclniMe.
'should be to Judge each nation on its