Evening journal., 1915-07-08

Town part IN the Hdhihb % thN
early colonies. He said.
my friends and neighborsi In
celebrating .he birthday of our ma
tion--in these critical timos-in this
crucial epoch. Of the history Of human
affairs. amidst the trying and peril
Gus events, the wars and rumors OF
war. which now surround us, we
should first pause and give thanks to
Almighty God. that as a nation and
as a people we ere at peace with the
world. and that we are able to rejoice,
in our prosperity.
AT the same time. we may well bow
our heads in sorrow and deeply de-
plore the sansuinary conflict which IS
spreading death, devastation and ruin
throughout The great nations OF bu-
rope. A conflict viewed IN the light
Of its enormity. its brutality, its de-
humanizing effects. has had no equal
upon the pages of history, nor IN the
most savage and barbarous warfare
Of ancient times.
1T seems astounding and incom-
prehensible, that at that particular
point OF time. when the worlds move
ment. in furtherance Of universal
peace. was thought to be almost ac-
complished when thirty odd peace
I treaties looking to that end, had been
entered into, by as many of the lead
/ ing nations, that there should burst
forth with unprecedented suddenness,
/ like a thunderbolt from a clear sky,
throughout the most civilized country
OF the eastern hemisphere, q. war most
shocking TO all OF the senses and SEN
sibilities of humanity. And why?
From what cause? What was the rea-
son or controlling influence that
brought II about? There is but one
answer. Monarchy and imperialism.
The immediate and exciting cause,
like the blowing up Of the Maine in
the harbor Of Havana suddenly
brought on the war with Spain in
1S9S-was the assassination OF the
lArchduke Francis Ferdinand heir
presumptive 10 the crown OF Austria
Hungary, by q subject of Servia. But
this was only the spark which sci
Iablaze the spirit of war already in
the skies. The monarchism and i'm.
perlalism, OF some of the great ma
tions OF Europe, we're simply awaken
ed by that event. from their Ions
dreams OF arbitrary power and terri
torial conquest In reality prepara
tions for an open conflict. had beer
going on for years. That event simply
opened the door of opportunity. Undei
the forms of such governments, th'
state, In contradistinction to thu
people, is the starting point from
which all rights are decided, and th'
individual holds no rights except thos
which are measured out to him b,
the state. Had the power 10 declar
war been vested ir the people, ther
would have been no war. But no, tn
y arbitrary power of imperialism erie
+. out the voice OF empire is the voic
!, of God II proclaims to its subject
! Your life is your empeFor's,' and
p must be surrendered to him, when /
= calls for it-and the subject obe'
20 the command. This is the piincip
y by which he is guided this Is the prii
y cipal which had laid waste the ia
4 plains of Belgium. and covered /
/. soil with the dead bodies Of innocel
/, men. women and children. This is Il
a principle murderOus principle
u which followed In the wake of q
, deadly torpedo. which without war;
n inc. shattered end sunk the great an
4. noble Lusitania. and sent her pr
1, cious burden. OF over one thousar
q human lives. 'unhousel'd, disappoi1
-, ed, unaneard, no reckoning mad
~, 10 their final account and in the de-
y, bosom of the ocean buried.
\, Thank Cod we live in a diifere
\. land and under a different form
IN government. Here the State is q
creature of the people. Our COVER
a. ment is of the people, by the peor
NE and for the people The voice OF {
m ml people. is the voice Of God Our dc
TIMES are In our own hands. The
~ are no mOnarchs. kings. kaisers
y. 'war-lords.' here 10 prey upon
W hody-politic. We live in a land
1' union. lieht and liberty. where no i
pediment. save want OF moral wor
~, is placed in our paths. We are
80 heirs apparent TO the White Hot
and chair Of state. Our present gr'
executive. Woodrow Wilson. occup
his exalted position. only through
grace and bv the consent OF the p
pie. And may I not here say that
is man Of peace. though fearl
~ in character. and that the wise p'
, cies OF government. which he
e. adopted in our relations 10 the cri
~ through which we are passing, sho
meet with the universal approval
endorsement Of the people through
.~,, the country. whose interests he
- conscientiously endeavoring 10 =
mas tect. regardless Of factions o.
are kind II Is for us to sustain him
i'll lend him our aid. For no people
'om accomplish any great purpose. with
No. unity OF thought and action.
,on "But what I wish now to impi
lew upon you more particularly, is
the great fundamental difference betw
las. our own free republic and the m
ing archial governments Of Europe 7
Gus highly we should prize our own
lev. contrast. and how many years ago
p. threw on the shackles Of monar'
which then bound us. We are insp
Y a by an atmosphere and a spirit
ials peace. Imperialism Is actuated
nal spirit Of war and militarism. T
of a war Of conquest and agrees
rec could not be maintained for
NET ment The sovereign people Of
and United States would not submit 4
We are a defensive and not an OF
sive people Am I right in this {
mate CT the liberty loving people
America? One hundred and thi