Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-05-18
The Ri0hf Spirit.

Former President Taft in what
many who heard him called the great
est speech he has ever made, Tuesday
night in the Union league house on
the occasion of the fiftieth anniver-
sary of its opening, gave his idea OF
what American action should be in
the crisis that has arisen because of.
events abroad.
Deliberation and calmness, he eau
toned, and above all other things the
support of President Wilson.
He foresees that the time may come
when the patience and pride of the
American people may be strained TO
the breaking point, and then, he de-
clared, the result will be war.
"But remember" he shouted, lit
will be the peoples war. They Will
suffer, they will die and in all things
they will have to pay"
1t is not war with Germany that he
sees as the only possibility for the
United States breaking into the great
conflict. He reminded his diStin-
gnished listeners that both England
and ner foe have violated what his
country has understood to be ''inter-
national law"
In his speech he had no time for the
pronounced iingoists.
"Haste will avail nothing" he said,
'if the United States has been out
ragged the wrong does not need be
avenger Immediately.
''There will be time enough when
by sound elaboration the President
through the people of the whole
country has made up his mind what
should be done"
Mr.. Taft was never more in earnest.
He pictured all corners of Americas
best interests and made peace seem so
fine and war so dreadful that his
"peace with honor" viewpoint was
dire enough to cast pail over his
audience.
1--WE are at critical stage IN our
foreign relations, growing out of the
great European wal" he asserted.
''The belligerents on both sides have
announced policies with respect to the
principles and rights of neutrals that
are contrary TO heretofore accepted
principles of international law.
Germany has not only announced,
but enforced, contrary to the laws of
war, policy in her naval warfare by
submarines and torpedoes against the
unarmed commercial slips of her
enemy, not only to the defenseless
subjects of her enemy, but the peacea-
bic citizens of the United States travel
ing on board such ships and entitled
TO warning and rescue before such
ships ere sunk.
sis war the only method of making
q nation accountable? Let us look in
to our own history. England con-
nived at the fitting out of armed YES
sells to prey off our commerce, TO attack
our navy and TO kill our sailors. We
protested and what die We do IhenF
We held her strictly accountable in
the Geneva conference. Was no. yopr
honor as much preserved by this
method as it would have been il we
had declared war?
I'VE must bear in mind that If we
have war it is the people, the men and
women, fathers and mothers, brothers
and sisters who must pay with lives
and money the cost Of it, and there
fore they should not be hurried into
the needed sacrifices until il is clear
that they wish it and know what
they are doing when they wish it.
THE task of the President is
heavy one. He is our President. He
is acting for the whole country. He
is anxious u find 4 way out of the
present difficulty without war.
before party, before ourselves. we
are for country. That is what he is
working for. Shall we not stand by
hims he wiz not surrender our coun-
try's rights