Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-26

man --SlHeflCallS nave pFcaCneu ana
practCed what comes peri!ously near
to treason against the United States.
Under the Hague Convention il was
our bounden duty 10 take whatever
action was necessary to prevent and,
if not to prevent, then 10 undo, the
hideous wrong that was done to Bel
GUM. We have shirked this duty. We
have shown a spirit so abject that
Germany has deemed it safe TO kill
our women and children on the high
seas. AS for the export of munitions
OF war, it would be a base abandon
ment of morality 70 refuse TO make
these shipments. Such refusal is
proposed only to favor the nation that
sank the Lusitania and the Arabic
and committed the crime against Bel
GUM, the greatest international crime
committed since the close of the Ma
pOleOnic contests century ago. II is
not lofty thing. on the contrary it
is an evil thing to practice timid and
selfish neutrality between right and
wrong. II is wrong for an individual.
1t is still more wrong for a nation.
But il is worse in the name Of neu-
tr2lity, to favor the nation that has
done evil. - Exactly the same NOR
ality should obtain internationally that
obtains nationally. 1t is right for
private firm to furnish arms to the po-
hcenen who puts down the thug. the
burglar. the white SLAYER and the
hlackhander. 1t is wrong to furnish
the blackhander. the burglar and the
white SLAYER with weapons to be used
against the policeman. The analogy
holds true in international life. Ger
many has herself been the greatest
manufacturer of munitions Of war to
be supplied 10 be!lisarents. Let
US furnish munitions TO the men who,
showing courage we have not shown
wish TO rescue Belgium from subjec-
ton and spoiliation and degradation.
And let US encourage n1unition makers
so that we may be able to hold our
own when the hour of peril comes to
US in our turn, as assurediy it will
come if we show ourselves too 'neu-
trail TO speak a word on behalf of the
weak who are wronged. and too sioth-
FIJI and lazy 10 prepare to defend our
selves against wrong. Most assuredly
il will come 10 US if we succeed in per-
suauing great military nations that we
are too proud to fight. that we are not
prepared TO undertake defensive war
for our own vital interest and national
honor.
Before leaving here for New York.
tonight, Col. Roosevelt made the fol-
lowing statement:
Il wish to make one comment on
the statement SO frequently made,
that we must stand by the Presi-
dent heartily subscribe TO this on
condition, and only or condition, that
it is followed by the statement So
long as the President stands by the
country
1t is defensible to state that we
stand by the country. right or wrong.
Il is indefensihle for any free man
ia a free republic to state that he
VIII stand by any official. right or
wrong, or by any ex-ofticial
Even as regards the country, while
believe that once war is on, every
citizen should stand by the land, yet,
in any crisis which may or not lead to
war. the prime duty Of the citizen is.
by criticism and advice, even against
what he may know 10 be the majority
opinion of his fellow citizens, to in
sist that the nation take the right
course of action.
There is even a stronger reason
for demanding OF every loyal citizen
that after the President has been CIV
en- ample time to act rightly, and has
either not acted al all. or has acted
wrongly. ne shall be made to feel that
the citizens whom he has elected to
serve. demand that he be loyal TO the
honor and to the interests Of the land
The President has the right to
have said of him nothing but what is
true, he should have sufficient time
to make his policy clear. But as re-
CARDS supporting him in all public pol
icy, the right of any President is on
~ to demand public support because
he does well, because he serves the
public well. and not merely because
he is President.
presidents differ just like other
folks No man could effectively stand
by President Lincoln unless he had
stood against President Buchanan. II,
after the frine on Sumpter. Presi-
dent Lincoln had in a public speech
said that the believers in the Union
were to proud to fight, and if, in
stead of acting there had been three
months admirable Evolutionary cor
NTH