Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-22

1t is often remarked that this bloody
family feud among the royal kinsmen OF
Europe would be of no special concern te
this country if they did not ruthless1y
violate our rights as neutrals and murder
our innocent men, women and children
But our country is a very large part OF
the world and it can never keep entirely
aloof from the worlds affairs. We dc
not deem it probable that this nation
will be involved in a conflict of arms
with any of the belligerent nations in
the present war. But no prophet sage
or seer. no soldier or statesman can pre-.
dict the end of it or foresee the de-
Velopments and conditions in Europe al
its close. Untold misery and distress will
be the inevitable result of the havoc
and waste of such a barbarous war. Blu,
the present belligerents will still have
the most formidable armies of veteran
soldiers that the world has ever seen
What revolutionary temper may seize the
impoverished and deluded people, anG
what may be the destiny of the mon.
archs tottering on their thrones, cannot
be foretold. History affords many illus.
trations Of the saying that a foreign wal
is sometimes the resort of desperate
monarch.
The powerful military dynasty which
precipitated this war. has for a genera
ton been cherishins the dream of
Worldwide German empire, Ito which
, for purposes of conquest and dominion
Rome in the height of its glory is not e
be compared" They have no proper con
ception of the equal rights and civil lib
erty enjoyed by the citizens Of this Re
public They have No understanding Of
or respect for, our democratic ideals
And they have become so obsessed by
the belief in their own supremacy over
all other nations and peoples of the
| earth, that their moral sense has become
absolutely perverted respecting their sol
emn obligations to observe the rights ant
privileges of other countries and othe,
peoples.
The American people are now simply
| asking that our preparations for defense
shall be adequate to render our country
mpregnable against hostile invasion by
land or sea. They realize tnat citizenship
carries with it duties and responsible
ties as well as rights and privileges. We
no longer need to refer to other nations
or other ages for stories of patriotism
In our own country and on our own sol
have been IS noble examples of patriotic
spirit: and heroic self-sacrifice as any re
corded in history. Persons of foreign
birth who have become naturaliZet
American citizens, took u solemn OATH
to "renounce and abiure all allegiance
| and fidelity to every foreign state or SOW
ereignty, and to bear true faith and allie
glance to the United States of America
and defend it against all enemies. They
| came here to enjoy under our more bene
ticent government. the rights and privi
! leges denied to them in the land of theil
birth. They owe to this country the same
| national duty and service as other citi
zens, and this nation has a right to in
sist that they shall bear it no divided al
legiance. but take their places by the
side of our native born citizens and
march under one flag, the flag OF oul
country and keep step to the music Of
her national airs.
Rear Admiral Peary
| Rear Admiral Peary was then intro.
duced by the presiding officer and as
| he rose to speak he was given a rising
salute by the audience. He spoke as
follows:
$50 much to do and so little time in
which to do it."
This is said to be the thought which
constantly spurred Cecil Rhodes, the
great South African Empire Builder, tc
| ceaseless high pressure activity and
$50 much to do and so little done" are
said to have been his last words.
Never were words more applicable
for us at this present time than the
former $50 much to do and so little
time in which to do it," and I pray God
the mournful time may never come
when with this beautiful country OF
ours crushed, Inundated and expiring
beneath a superior trained force the
blood wrung groan of every surviving
patriot American will be $50 much to
do and so little done"
1t rests with us. Providence has
been very good to this country in the
past.
Providence is very good to us now
in giving us the opportunity to stand
by and gain points and experience from
the present European melee and in
giving us the time to prepare and train
for the struggle that is surely coming
for us unless we are so well prepared
as to make an attack upon us unwise.
But there may be limit to the pa
thence Of even Providence.
Let us not try it too far.
Let me quote the following to show
you what is in the mind Of more than
dne informed and thinking man among
us today.
1.-THE western hemisphere is the
richest most accessible and most cas-.