The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-26

have broken up many nests Of conspiracy
where representatives Of alien nations
have been plotting against the peace and
prosperity OF our land. We should have
driven into their holes thousands of dis
loyal citizens who have been obeying the
behests of foreign powers while still
clutching the privileges OF American citi-
zenship.
But more important than this, We
should have indicated the honor and
majesty Of our country. We should have
given expression 10 the real sentiments
of nine-tenths OF our people. We should
have taken our stand by the side OF the
great democracies who are fighting our
battles today against the encroachments
and usurpations OF autocratic tyranny.
And we should have thrown into the
scale the weight OF our influence as the
mightiest neutral power on the side of
humanity and law and liberty.
Can We submit to Insults.
But 1t will be said. such a course might
have led to war. I answer, not neces-
sartly so: not unless Germany saw fit to
declare war against US. which IL is not
likely she would have done
But suppose II might have lead TO war.
Is great and powerful nation to submit
TO insults and outrage rather than run
the risk Of war? The central European
powers have. In fact. been levying war
against the United States for seven
months past. They have been attacking
industries. they have been interfering
with our domestic affairs, they have been
fomenting strikes, they have plotted to
blow up our public buildings to burn our
factories, to blow up our ships Read
the Declaration Of Independence and see
now small were England's acts of oppres-
sion against the colonies in COMPARISON
With what we have endured at the hands
of the central empires. What an indict-
ment Thomas Jefferson could have drawn
up were he with us today. against Ger
many and Austria
And l ask, should we fail OF our
duty in a great world crisis, when the
blood of our citizens cries to Heaven
Tor vengeance because We are afraid of
the consequences? Where is the spirit of
IS. when thirteen feeble colonies did
not hesitate to challenge the power Of
the mighty English empire rather than
submit to unjust taxation-a tax on tea?
Men say. What could America, in
its defenseless condition without an
army, and with so small a navy, what
could America do against the mighty
arms OF Germany and Austria? /
answer. What could Germany and
Austria do against America so long as
the British feet commands the seas
They could not land a soldier on our
shores. The most they could do would
be to smuggle a submarine across the
Atlantic and attack our commerce.
And now another outrage has been
committed. Another ship Cthe Ancona)
has been sunk. and as American citizens
were assassinated on the Lusitania. and
on the Arabic, and on the Hesperian,
American citizens have now been as
sasslnated with brutal cruelty on board
the Ancona.
This new outrage offers a fresh
opportunity to our government-not to
speak. or to write dispatches-but to act
in defense OF the insulted majesty of
the republic. We trusted our President
We were ready to give him whole-hearted
support. We expected his virtIe asser-
ton of the rights of American citizen,
and OF the rights OF humanity (Which so
stirred our blood would have been
followed by action. vigorous action hut
after watchfully waiting In vain for seven
months, We frankly say we are dis
appointed. Will We be disappointed now
I'm my opinion American citizens
should no longer keep silent. We have
patiently waited to be led In the path
of duty, but we have waited in vain
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.
We ask now. not for strong and resolute
words, but for strong and resolute action
Let II not be said that the words I
have uttered this morning are not fitting
in the Christian pulpit. I hold, on the
that 1t Is the duty of the Chris
tian pulpit to denounce the sordid and
selfish ideals that have regard only to
trade and comfort and peace. The
Christian pulpit should call. trumpet
tongued. to the people to be true to our
American ideals; true to the principles
Of liberty and justice enshrined in our
true to the great principles of
democracy embodied in our constitution.
II remember that It was Mattathias,
the priest, who fred the hearts of the
Jews to resist the tyranny OF Antiochus
yourselves men" It was the archbishop
OF Canterbury who headed the barons
at Runnimeade. when they wrung the
Magma Chartar from the tyrant John! 1t
was the prophet Ezekiel who was
charged to watch and warn the people of
the approach of the enemy. The leaders
of the Christian church have often. in
great national crises stood forth to utter
the peoples voice against tyranny.
Grave Crisis Confronts Us.
II feel. therefore, that it is not only
my right. but my duty. TO give utterance
to the sentiments which ! believe throb
In many hearts in our country today. II
make my own. the words recently ut
tered by one Of our ablest legal lights
L venture to say. In all reverence. that
the God Of nations will be better pleased