New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-23
Rights of Trade Menaoed
in War Zone, He Tells
MorriStoWn Hearers.
SAYS FOREIGN-BORN
WILL BE AMERICAN
S,mpathizes with Belgium. but
Upholds Wilson'S Adherence
10 Washington's Policy.


.. country was threatened with a
...og, INVASION Of It's rights as a ncu-
Ga. nation by the European belligcr-
OFF. and in preserving its commerce
..- them. Mines and submarines, he
.... ~cprcscntcd such danger.
re vphcId President Wilson's neu-
.r,.-.v policy. He admitted sympathy
for Belgium. bu; upheld the Presidents
course iu taking no action.
Should there arise a cri'is between
,,. United States and ,Ae warning
,,.r.r.cs. N-. Taft declared that no
.r~o sr,-i, should be allowed 20 pre-
vail nor should pride or momentary
-sseso0 influence our judgment. All
stould be ready 20 stand by the Presi-
dent g,hcu he shall act, regardless Of
previous views or European origin.
Nh Tai, said 10 was foolish not 70
sell arms and ammunition TO belllger.
cr4s. and used as the basis for some Of
his arguments the position Of Wash
irg,or with regard 70 neutrality.
Reservations in Treaty.
His reference to tn, situation now
confronting the country was made At
n. conclusion Of lis address, when he
declared that our interest in the war,
under the conditions that existed,
should be limited, as set forth in a
reservation IN the treaty Of Algeciras
OF 1907, to:
Preserving and increasing the com
rreyco OF the United States with the
holNgcrents; the protection as 10 life,
liberty and prosperity OF our citizens
IN their countries, and the aiding by
our friendly efforts in bringing them
80 peace"
"Our efforts for peace" he continued,
have been made as complete as posi-
bic. for the President has already ten
lorcd his good Offices by way Of media
ton between the powers and they have
not been accepted.
ON preserving the commerce Of the
United States with the belligcrents.
however, we arc face 10 face with a
crisis We are threatened with a seri-
Gus invasion Of our rights as neutrals
loo trading with the belligerent cOun-
tries
The planting Of mines in the open
sea and the use Of submarines 10 send
neutral vessels TO the bottom without
inquiry as 10 their neutrality, when
found in a SO-Called war zone of the
open sea, are all of them a variation
from the rules of international law.
w hen their violation results in the
destruction of the lives Of American
citizens or of American property a
crave issue will arise as TO what the
duty Of this government is. The re-
possibility Of the President and Con-
rrcss IN meeting the critical issue thus
! 800. ...v, 4f1,v,
rights and our national honor, or the
one hand, and exhibiting due regard
FOR the awful consequences 10 our
a0o0OOO0 Of people OF engaging in this
horrible world war on the other, would
to very great. 1t involves on their
part a judgment 50 momentous in its
consequences that we should earnestly
pray that the necessity for il may be
aNcrtcd.
The Duty Of Americans.
we must allow no lingo spirit TO
prevail. We must abide in the iudC-
ment OF those 10 whom We have in
trusted the authority. and when the
President shall act We must stand by
him To the end In this determination
We may be sure that all will Join, no
matter what their previous views. no
matter what their European origin.
All will forget their differences in self
sacrificing loyalty TO our common flag
and our common country"
In opening his address Mr. Taft said:
"NaShington's life and service related
20 many phases and problems in our
national life, and his views set forth
ln his correspondence, in his messages
and expressed in his executive acts
were broad and comprehensive.
But the policy Of neutrality was
Washington's alone. He initiated it,
He enforced it. He bequeathed it 70
his countrymen. Before he had been
chosen President he wrote as follows:
81 hope the United States Of Amer
ica will be able to keep disengaged
from the labyrinth Of European poll
TICS and wars, and that before long
they will. by the adoption OF a good
national government, have become re-
spectacle in the eyes Of the world. II
should be the policy of the United
States 10 administer 10 their wants
without being engaged IN their quar-
rels.'"
Mr. Taft also quoted letters Of Wash
'ngton written in March, 1898, in which
ne told Of war between Great Britain
and France and urged this government
20 prevent the citizens from embroil-
ing America with either Of these bel
!,gerents He urged the maintenance
- a strict neutrality.
"'Thc great rule of conduct for US
IN regard 10 foreign nations wrote
Washington. is in extending our com
mercial relations 20 have with them as
little political connection as possible
So far as we have already formed en-
Cagements. let them be fulfilled with
perfect good faith. Here let US stop A"
Mr.. Taft cited this as good text
from which 90 preach q sermon and
draw a lesson on Wsshington's Birth.
CAV. because we had among our citizens
many who look back 10 one or another
81 the belligerents "a their native land.
The natural result has followed that
the bitterness Of the contest IS re-
fected i'm the conflicting sympsthies OF
cur people.
Public interest" he said. "hss slim
ulated and created psrtisans, who at
tack President Wilson because he has
been faithfully following the example
set and the admonitions given by our
first President.
European Politics Here.
no better evidence Of this could be
Rad than that from time 70 time, frst
one side and then the other criticises
the administration for its Partially, its
lame scauiescence or its unfair pro-
tests. So extreme have some Of these
partisans become that they propose 10
organize a pOlitica: party and take
political action, 20 be based on issues
arising out Of the present war, to ig-
more altogether the questions geTmane
20 American domestic politics and TO