The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-22
PUBLIC OPINION
NEUTRALITY.

l.
To- the Editor of The Bridgeport
Neutrality. the state. of being un-
engaged inzdIsputes or state of in
difference in feeling or principal
| webster III.
Above we have the definition of the
word N eutraIity. y Think It over. fair
| minded citizen, and see whether you
can truthfuIly and consrientiously say
that we are strictly neutral in spirit
as we'll as in law We may have a
legal right to sell ammunitions and
arms to those of the warning nations
that are IN position to get them, we
| may have a legal right to loan money
to those of the warning nations that
need OR gold, but, Is a nation neu-
trail that allows those things to be
done. especially when but one side
Of the contesting parties are being
benefited by our neutrality 2? How
long would the slaughter continue, if
America would say, you have entered
into this conflict finish it among your
selves 7 viii be neutral, so don't.
look for any assistance from me. That
would be q strictly neutral position,
that would be as the word is defined
sthe state of being unengaged in dis
putes or contest between others. the
state of taking NO part on either sides
"a state of indifference in feeling or
principal 8s ~
But to get back to-St11e question, let
as see how we are maintaining our
neutrality right here in Bridgeport
factories are working three shifts of
eight hours, each making munition,
other factories are being constructed
with feverish haste for the manu-
facture of ammunition and arms, all
over the country, powder mills and
ammunition factories are being work
ed to the limit of their output and
others springing up as if by magic, in
fact entire towns are being built all
for the same purpose, for the purpose
of making material and weapons for
Slaughter. and If our newspapers are
not misleading, but one side of the
contestants are getting our entire out
put IF we call that neutrality, then
I say God protect us from such
neutrality in time of trouble"
We may boast of our fairness and
our square dealing, but as It is writ
ten. Hby their deeds shall We know
them" so shall it be, and in view of
What<fs transporting all our boasts is
rot, pure rot, for we are no better
than those that are now engaged upon
the battle field, yes, worse, far worse
for we have proven that we are out
for the dollar, making our gains at
the expense of the lives of thousands
that had right to live. we are
making our gains at the exuense f
making widows and orphans. we are
making our gains at the expense of
prolonging the conflict, of destruction
Of the beautiful in art and treasure
at expense of our se1f-respect. For
had it not been for the aid that this
country has given, the conflict would
have ended ere now.
Is The disgusting spectacle of greedy
hyenas of finance whose Golfers are
19f
1oaning money to pro1ong the butch
cry, so their gold would increase in
volurnn, is rotten business, the stencil
of which can be snlelled all over the
world The disgusting spectacle of
working our factories night and day,
to kill off their fellow men. is rotten
business, the stencil of which can be
smelled adj over the world.
Neutrality, bah! fair play, bah!
square. dealing, bah! Why not be men
and say we are Commentaries; out
for the almighty dollar. What care
we. if the whole world perish, 50 long
as we get that dollar.
America, your fair name has been
stained with the blood OF thousands
who might have lived, who had a
right to live, had it not been for the
yipers whose lust for gold is the
only god they know. you have step
ped down from the high pinnacle of
truth and Hght.--to a lower leye1ath than
those that are now numbering one
another upon the battle field; all be-
cause you allowed the greed for gold
stif7e all the nobler qualities of hui
mainly, because you allowed the soul
less accumu1ators of wealth have
their way, that they may have more of
the gold, that they need not.
True were the words of Dumas when
he said "Ohs men, men, you race of
crocodifes, how well do I know you, /
etc, etc. We send one ship of pro- |
visions to devastated Belgium and if.
~ ships of ammunition to devastate |
more countries. Wegcry out of one