Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-23

war. and Il was possible only to cs-
cape them ON tho plea that they were
not binding on the United states in
the case of an offensive war such AS
France was waging against England.
Finally, after his course of neutrality
had been ylndicatcd and he came 10
lay his office down. he appealed 90
the American people not 10 depart
from IT.
Quotes Prom Washington.
Mr.. Taft quoted from Washing
tons appeal and said there was a
lesson TO be drawn from this, Wash
ingtons birthday.
Most OF the great powers ot Eu-
rope are again at war, he continued
I'VE have among our citizens many
who look back to the country OF one
or the other of the helligerents an
their native land The natural result
has followed that the bitterness OF
the contest Is reflected In the cOn-
ilicting sympathies OF our people. The
newspapers OF no other country have
been as fun OF details OF the war and
circumstances leading to II, as our
own press. This has stimulated pub
lie interest and created partlsans who
attack President Wilson because he
has been faithfully following the eN-
ample and the admonitions given hy
our first president.
NO better evidence OF this could
be had than that, from time TO time,
first one side and then the other criti.
elses the administration for It's par
tiality, It's lame aequiescence or its
unfair protest
Relation 10 Politics.
.a.t hat
wise or unpatriotio course In our for
elgn relations may not Justify criti-
cism OF an administration and may
not require It's eommendation at the
appropriate election, but In such a
case, the reasons must be found In
! injury to the interests OF the United
states and not in the merits Of the
issues being fought out by European
nations in an European arena.
II was asked in Canada whether
the war would affect our politics, st
as te divide parties ON European
lines. answered unhesltatingly ir
the negative | said that 60 inject Eu'
ropean ISSUES into American politics
/ had uniformly meant the defeat ol
/ those who attempted II.
! Legislation Is pressed TO forbid
/ the sale OF arms and ammunition by
our merchants in trade TO belliger.
ents
I'VE do not discriminate between
! the helligerents in the matter of fur'
nishing our material II Is only that
/ the fortune of the war and the cir
cumstances over which We have ne
control, prevent one side from pur.
chasing in our markets. which are
open to the world.
selling Arms to Belllgcrcnts.
"But my chief objection To glvinr
up lawful aud usual course OF nou'
tral To sell arms ana ammunition q
belligcrenis Is based ON the highest
national interest We are country
which is never likely To be fully pre-.
pared for war We must have the
means of preparing az rapidly aa pos.
sible after war Is Imminent and In.
evitahle We would be most foolish
to adopt a policy of refusing to sci
arms and ammunition 10 belligerenl
powers, which, if II was pursued
against US when we were driven Int
war, would leave US helpless.
more than this. II We we're ia place
Tan ef1isaIsso on the sale Of arms an
! ammunition 10 bclligerents, we woult
discourage the industry IN this coun
! try and reduce substantially our pos
sible domestic means of preparing
for future wars.
Finally. the general adoption oi
( a course by neutrals not 10 sell arms
/ TO the heligcrents IN a war. would
| greatly stimulate the tendency TO In
crease armaments in time of peace Il
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