The Washington times., 1915-12-01
AMERICA UNABLE
.TODEFEND ANYBODY
WRITES ROOSEVELT.
Asserts United States Shirks
Duty as World Power While
?rattIing About Peace.

NEW YORK. Dec. lin reply to a
call for his assistance In the mass meet
Ing TO be held soon by the American
committee for Armenian and Syrian re.
lief. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, in a let
ter made public here. dcnounces the
pacifists who. he says. are trying to
arouse America to action over the
tragedy OF Armenia and who had no
stomach for similar movements In be &.
half of Mexico or Belgium. The let
ter was given out by. Prof. s. T Dut.
ton. secretary Of the committee. be-
cause. he says. It is the first time
the s!u, colonel has uttered criticism OF
~ this people through. its Govern
mont had not shirked its duty in Mexi-
co for the last five years. and II this
people through its Government had not
the world war for the last sixteen
months" wrote the colonel to Dutton.
We now would be able to take effective
action on behalf Of Armenia.
Mass meetings In behalf OF Armenia
amount to nothing whatever IL they arc
mere methods of giving sentimental
put inenectivc and safe outlet to tho
feelings Of those engaged In them. As
long as this Government proceeds.
whether Ms regards Mexico or as re-
CARDS Germany. whether as regards the
European war or as regards Belgium
OF. the principles of the peace-at-any-
price man, Of the professional pacifst.
Just so long will II be as ineffective for
International Righteousness rs China it.
self.
Attacks 1gnoble Souls"
One reason why I do not wish 10
take part In a mass meeting for the de-
nunciation Of the atrocities committed
on the Armenians Is because there are
ignoble souls who have preached pro-
fessional pacifism as creed. or who
have refused to attend similar meetings
on behalf Of the Belgians. who vet do
NOT fear to take such action on behalf
that there is in America no Turkish vote
and because Turkey Is not our neighhor
as Mexico II. and not a formidable sg-
gressive power like Gcrmsny. and so 1t
is safe. both politically and materially.
to denounce her.
1T was announced the other dav by
certain politicians interested in securing
votes that at the end OF the war this
and Roumania doing Justice to all Jews
The conduct of this Government 1ur-
ing the present war and its utter re-
fusdl to back words with deeds has
thing Of the kind. whether rs regards
Russia. or Roumana. or any other
power.
For all this the pacifists who dare
Ih SDeSh LOT TlEnteouSHeSS dIu Nho
j." "ss such an unpleasant and evil
"ncc in tho United states must
responsibility with the most
,pc Of mi!itarists. The weak
! nilk-and-watcr policy OF the
,l,al pacificist Is just as respon-
si,I, AS the blood-and-iron policy of
the worthless and unscrupulous mill
tarists for the terrible recrudescence OF
evil on gigantic scale In the civilized
world.
Teach Debasing Security.
These men, whether politicians, pub
licists. college presidents. capitalists, la
Dor leaders or self-styled philanthro.
pists, have done everything they could
acter and weaken the strength of the
American will. They teach our people
to seek that debasing security which is
to be found in the love of ease, in fear
or risk. In the Limid effort to avoid duty
that Is hard or hazardous-a security
which purchases peace in the present.
not only at tho cost of humiliation in
the present but at the cost of disaster
in the future.
II trust that tine worthy Americans
whose deepest Indignation and kcencst
sympathy are aroused by the dreadful
Armenian atrocities will realize that
unless America prepares to defend her
self she can perform no duty to others.
and that under such circumstances she
earns only derision If she prattles about
forming a league for world peace, or
about arbitrati ton treaties and disarma- :
ment proposals and commission-inves-
tigation treaties