The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-26

on the coming Thanksgiving Dsy.--whieh
should also be one of penitcnce and hui
mility-if We do little more In fact as
well as IL words. to safeguard the rights
OF humanity
we confront today, my fellow citizens
and my fellow Christians. the most seri-
Gus crisis that has arisen for half CEN
tury. II Is solemn hour In which we
live. The honor of our country Is al
stake. The security OF our citizens on
the high seas Is In constant jeopardy.
Our domestic peace Is invaded by the
agents Of foreign nations. Arson anu
murder are plotted in the very midst OF
our peaceful communities. Our supine
policy OF Inaction has grieved and nu-
inflated the hearts of our citizens-
dlsloyal press. doing the bidding OF tor-
eign nations. boldly naunts itself before
our eyes. The fires OF patriotism are
burning low among thousands OF our
people. In proof of this, at recent
meeting in Cooper Union an audience OF
nearly thousand persons gave express
sion to the feeling that they are as will
ing to live under one government as an
other: that flag. no matter what nag
means nothing to them. Meanwhile our
country has suffered serious loss Of pres
tige. The name of American citizen no
longer commands the respect Il once did
I'm such a crisis. our citizens have a
duty to perform. They should frankly
express their sentiments, and / believe
that the great majority of our citizens.
practically all true Americans. are Of the
opinion that our policy should be gov
erned in this great crisis, not by coun-
ellis of timldity OF international oppor-
tunisIn. but by a stesdfast regard to the
principles and ideals handed down to us
by our revolutionary ancestors: by fidel-
ity to the principles of liberty and democ-
racy enshrined In our Constitution; by
brave determination TO vindicate the
honor and majesty Of the republic; by
a stern resolution. at whatever cost, to-
repel the open or secret assaults Of for
eign powers on our domestic peace and
harmony: above ALL by loyalty to Justice,
that justice which should dominate all
the moral forces: that justice which as
ancient as humanity itself. eternal as the
need OF man and nations Is the basis Of
all civilization.
should Assert Principles.
Our President speaks of the principles
of peace and freedom by which We have
always sought to be guided, but 1 trust
we have also always sought to be guild
ed by the principles of justice and hu-
ma unity and that we should always be
prepared to assert these principles. and
to suffer for them II need be. As 1t Is
true OF the individual that mo man
liveth to himself so II Is true of ma
tion-nO nation can AFFORD to live TO IT.
self
There are crises in the history OF a
nation when the words of Christ. He
that saveth his life shall lose it, find
their national application. Better even
the losses and the sufrerings OF war
terrible as they are. than the loss OF
honor-the failure to respond to our
national ideals. the humiliation OF our
national name, Listen to the brave
words Of the leader OF the bar of Brus-
sells in an address which led to his
being cast into a Prussian prison:
Why these sacrifices, why this sorrow?
Belgium could have avoided these dis
asters saved her existence. her treas
ures and the lives OF her people: but
she preferred her honor
Courageous Policy Is Best.
Let me guard myself against mIsun-
Outstanding. God forbid that I should
utter a word that could add feathers
weight to the heavy burden that rests
on the Presidents shoulders All true
Americans should wish TO support their
chief magistrate and to labor sympa-
thetically with him in his efforts to Crap
pie with the difficult task that confronts
him at this crisis
But IL Is for that very reason that
We appeal to him to adhere bravely to
the principles he has so clearly enun-
ciated in his diplomatic correspondence
with Germany. We are confident that a
courageous course of action. just in line
with his strong and patriotic utterance
last spring and summer. would tighten
his burden and clear out of his pathway
many Of the difficulties and dangers that
now beset II. 1t is our friendliness to
him-our sincere loyalty-our earnest
wish that he should overcome the diff
culties that face him. and triumph over
the people who are at once his enemies
and the enemies OF our country, that
moves us to urge upon him a different
course from that which he is now pur-
suing-to seize the opportunity that again
presents itself to take bold and decisive
action in vindication Of the honor of our
country.
rs it too much to ask him to Danish
from our shores the plotters and con-
spirators who, wearing the livery OF for
eign nations, and accepted as representa-
tives of friendly powers. have been using
their diplomatic positions as bases
whence to wage war against the peace
OF our country?
THE President no doubt desires TO
know the sentiments of the people. and, |
out and as the officers of the army and .
navy do not enjoy the right Of free
speech. It may well be that the voice Of
the puIpit-whiCh has no political or ra-
cial bias-we have unique value as an eN-
of public sentiment We who
in the things of God occupy a
position Of detachment. unaffected by the
of politics or of commercial inter-
est. :
The people are heartily with the Presi-
dent in his patriotic purpose to put the
i'm a state OF preparation against
any attack that may be made upon 1t by
a foreign power; and We believe that
the people would be just as heartily with
him if he should Justify the stern pur-
pose expressed in his last note 10 Ger
many. by appropriate action now.
R. r. Y. N. C. A. Meet Tonight.
A preparatory athletic meet will be
held in the gymnasium at the Terminal
r. r. Y, NJ. C. A. tonight at o'clock.
The events will consist of 40-yard dash.