Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-09
N-AMERICANISM HAS
NONE OF EMPIRES SPIRIT,
Economic Adjustments Inevitable With.
in the Next Generation.

Economic Adjustments Inevitable With.
in the Next Generation.
Tie moral is that the states Of Amer
lea are not hostile rivals, but coop.
Grating friends, and that their grow
ing sense Of community of interest,
alike In matters political and in mat
ters economic, is likely to give them
new significance as factors in interna-
tional affairs and In the political his
tory Of the world. 1t presents them as
in a very deep and true sense a unit
in world affairs, spiritual partners,
standing together because thinking to-
gether, quick with common sympathies
and common ideals. Separated, they
are subject to all the cross currents of
the confused politics of world Of hos.
tile riva!ries; united in spirit and pur.
pose. they cannot be disappointed Of
their peaceful destiny.
This is pan-Americanism 1t has none
of the spirit of empire in 1t. 1t is the
embodiment, the effectual embodiment,
of the spirit of law and independence
and liberty and mutual service.
A very notable body Of men recently
met in the city of Washington, at the
invitation and as the guests Of this
government, whose deliberations are
likely to be looked back to as marking
memorable turning point in the his
tory of America. They were repre-
sentative spokesman Of the several in
dependent states of this hemisphere
and We're assembled to discuss the
financial and commercial relations Of
the republics Of the two continents
which nature and political fortune
have so intimately linked together !
earnestly recommend to your perusal
the reports of their proceedings and Of
the actions Of their committees. You
Will get from. them. | think. fresh
| conception of the ease and intelligence
and advantage with which Americans
Of both continents may draw together
in practical cooperation and Of what
/ the material foundations Of this hope
| full partnership Of interest must con.
/ sist-of how we should build them and
of how necessary it is that we should
hasten their building
! There Is, l venture to point out, an
especial significance just now attach
ing to this whole matter OF drawing
the Americas together in bonds of hon
Orable partnership and mutual advan-
tage because Of the economic readjust.
ments which the world must inevitably
witness within the next generation,
when peace shall have at last resumed
its healthful tasks. In the perform
ance of these tasks l believe the Amer
icas to be destined to play their parts
together. l am interested to fix your
attention on this prospect now because
unless you take 1t within your view
and permit the full significance of it to
command your thought l cannot find
the right light in Which to set forth
the particular matter that lies at the
very front of my whole thought as
address you today. l mean national
defense.
No ono who really comprehends the
spirit Of the great people for whom We
are appointed to speak can fail to per
ceive that their passion is for peace
their genius best displayed in the prac
tice of the arts of peace. Great democ
racies are not belligerent They do moi
seek Or desire war. Their thought Il