The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-10
BAR ASSOCIATION
 MEETS AT CAPITAL
Hannis Taylor Delivers Stir ring Address on Our Duty as Neutral Nation" !" Says England Must Be Brought to Terms
By l.. z. RETTY

Montgomery. July 9.-(Special. )--Main- taining that we cannot hope to make a friendly settlement with Germany until we first bring Great Britain to terms, :" and urging the immediate assembling of Congress for the purpose of securing it's counsel at this critical period of the na- nations history, Col Hannis Taylor of Washington, D. C., former United States ambassador to Spain. appeared before the Alabama State Bar association to- day and delivered a stirring address on the subject of Our Duty as a Neutral Nation"
 Colonel Taylor declared that war with Germany was imminent unless the Uni- ted States should compel Great Britain to modify her illegal blockade on cot ton and foodstuffs exported from this country affirming his belief that other wise Germany cannot make the eonces- sions we demand as to her submarine warfare.
 The remarks of the distinguished speak CT made profound impression upon his hearers, and he was given the closest possible attention throughout his address Colonel Taylor made 1t appear very clear ly that he does not approve of the Presi- dents policy, indicating that the United States, in view of its present attitude, cannot be viewed in any other light than IS an ally of Great Britain.
 Explains Conclusion
 In explaining in conclusion why Con- gress should meet, Colonel Taylor said:
 Let us not deceive ourselves with il- lusions Germany has her back to the wall; she is fighting for her life; she cannot make the concessions we demand as to her submarine warfare. no matter how illegal it may be- unless we compel Great Britain, and can to make such notifications in her illegal blockade will render such concessions upon the part of Germany possible. Who is so blind as not to see that through such course of action lies our only path ot peace? We cannot hope to make a friend ly settlement with Germany until we first bring Great Britain to terms; and that can only be done through the action of the Congress of the United States. There never has been a moment in our history when the assembling of the great council of the ation was more imperativeiy nec- essary than now. The Mexican hornor is QeepenlnS every day, actual starvation IS threatening the lives of those that re- main; the time when we must act like a nation of men, or be eternally disgraced Is near at hand. With equal rapidity the time is approaching when we must either place ourselves in a state or war With Germany or except rebuff al her hands. The decision of the question of war or peace is vested in Congress alone, and no other authority should attempt to ex ercise it. I believe firmly in representa- tive government. It was devised as a sub stitute for autocratc rule and it was a good substitute. I have an abiding faith in the wisdom, patriotism and mod eraton of the American Congress. to whose counsel at this critical moment the people of the United States are entitled. ] have no sympathy whatever with the st ggestion made loudly in certain guar ters (you often hear it at Washington that it is dangerous at such a time to trust to the discretion of the representa- tves of the American people. There should be an urgent and nation-wide de- mand for the immediate convocation of Congress. The legislature of Georgia has just made move in the right direction, | and l trust that the legislature of Ala bama soon to assemble, will be equally l esolute in maintaining the rights Of the 1 southern people,