The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-02-26
Friday. February 70, 1915
TAFT BACKS UP WILSON

rights as a neutral by the war;
ing nations of Europe, and in
preserving its commerce with
those nations is face to face with
crisis, in the opinion of former
President William H. Taft. In
the solution of that crisis, shonld
it arise, no jingo spirit must be
allowed to prevail, Mr.. Taft ad-
vised; neither pride nor momen-
tary passion should influence the
public judgment.
And when the President shall
act" Mr.. Taft declared, I'VE
must stand by him to the end.
In this determination we may be
sure that all will join, no matter
what their previous views, no
matter what their European orr
gin. All will forget their differ
ences in self-sacrifcing loyalty
to our common flag and our COM
mon country
Mr.. Taft's reference to the
situation confronting the United
States was made at the conclus-
ion of an address delivered on
Feb. 22nd before the Washington
Association of New Jersey.
Quoting from a reservation in
the treaty of Algeciras proclaim
ed in 1907, and entered into by
the United States and II Euro
pean nations, including most of
those now at war, Mr.. Taft said:
Our interest in the present
war, therefore, under the con-
ditions that exist, should be linn
tied as set forth in this reserva-
ton, to wit, to preserving and
increasing the commerce of the
United States with the belliger-
ents; to the protection as to life,
liberty and prosperity of our
citizens residing or travelling in
their countries, and to the aiding
by our friendly offices and efforts
in bringing those countries to
peace.
Our efforts for peace" he
continued, have been made as
complete as possible, for the
President has already rendered
his good offices by way of media
ton between the powers, and
they have not been accepted.
In preserving the commerce
of the United States with the
belligerents, however, we are
face to face with a crisis. We
are threatend with serious in
vasion of our rights as neutrals
in trading with the belligerent
countries. What certainly is an
innovation upon previous rules
IN respect to neutral commerce
and contraband of war has been
inflated by belligerents of both
sides. The planting of mires in
the open sea and the use of SUBJ
marines to send neutral vessels
to the bottom without inquiry as
to their neutrality when found
IN a so-called war zone of the
open sea, are all of them a var
latlon from the rules of inter-
national law governing the ac-
ton of belligerents toward neu-
trail trade.
When their violation results
in destruction Of the lives of
American citizens, or American
property, a grave issue will arise
as to what the duty of this Gov
eminent is. The responsibility
of the President and Congress in
meeting the critical issue thus
presented in maintaining our
national rights and our national
honor, On the one hand, with
due regard to the awful conse-
quences to our 100000 of
people of engaging in this horri-
BILE world war, on the other.
will be very great. It involves
on their part judgment so mo-
mentous in its consequences that
we should earnestly pray that
the necessity for it may be aver
ted.
If, however, the occasion
arises, we can be confident that
those in authority will be actua-
ted by the highest patriotic mo-
tives and by the deepest concern
for our national welfare. We
must not allow our pride or
momentary passion to influence
our judgment. We must exer-
else the deliberation that the
fatefule consequences in the loss
of our best blood and enormous
waste of treasure would neces-
sarily impose upon US. We must
allow no jingo spirit to prevail.
I'VE must abide the judgment
of those in whom we have in
trusted the authority, and when
the President shall act, we must
stand by him to the end. In
this determination we may be
4Loo+ I'll I'LL ,o;~o