The Carlisle independent., 1915-12-09


 piled some of the best and strongest elements of that little, but how heroic, nation that in a high day of old staked it's very life to free itself from every entanglement that had darkened the fortunes of the older nations and set up a new standard here-that men of such origins and such free choices of allegiance would ever turn in malign reaction against the govern ment and people who had welcomed and nurtured them and seek to make this proud country once more hot bed of European passion. A little while ago such a thing would have seemed incredible. Because it was incredible we made no preparation for it. We would have been almost ashamed to prepare for it, as if we were suspicious of ourselves, our own comrades and neighbors But the ugly and incredible thing has actual ly come about and we are without adequate federal laws to deal with 1t I urge you to enact such laws at the earliest possible moment and feel that
 
 nothing less than save the honor and self-respect of the nation. Such crea~ lures of passion, disloyalty, and an- archy must be crushed out. They are not many, but they are infinitely malignant, and the hand of our power should close over them at once. They have formed plots to destroy property, ir,tn 1cT1ir oia against the neutrality of the govern ment, they have sought to pry into every confidential transaction of the government in order to serve interests alien to our own. It is possible to deal with these things very effectually. I need not suggest the terms in which they may be dealt with.
 Are Disgrace to the Nation.
 I wish that it could be said that only few men, misled by mistaken sentiments of allegiance to the govern ments under which they were born, had been guilty of disturbing the self. possession and misrepresenting the temper and principles of the country during these days of terrible war, when it would seem that every man who was truly an American would instinctively make it his duty and his pride to keep the scales of judgment even and prove himself partisan of no nation but his own. But it cannot There are some men among us, and many resident abroad who, though born and bred in the United States and calling themselves Americans, have so forgotten themselves and their honor as citizens as to put their passionate sympathy with one or tho other side in the great European con- fiict above their regard for the peace and dignity of the United States. They also preach and practice disloyalty. No laws, 1 suppose, can reach cor ruptions of the mind and heart; but should not speak of others without also speaking of these and expressing the even deeper humiliation and scorn which every self-possessed and thoughtfully patriotic American must feel when he thinks of them and of the discredit they are daily bringing upon us.
 While we speak of the preparation of the nation to make sure of her security and her effective power we must not fall into the patent error of supposing that her real strength comes from ornaments and mere safe guards of written law.
 What is more important is, that the industries and resources of the coun- try should be available and ready for mobilization.
 The transportation problem is m exceedingly serious and pressing one in this country. There has from time to time of late been reason to fear that our railroads would not much longer be able to cope with 1t successfully, as at present equipped and co-ordained. I suggest that 1t would be wise to provide for com mission of inquiry to ascertain by . thorough canvass of the whole ques- tion whether our laws as at present framed and administered are as serv- iceable as they might be in the solu- tion of the problem. It is obviously problem that lies at the very founda- tion of our efficiency as a people. Such az inquiry ought to draw out every circumstance and opinion worth con. sidering and we need to know all sides of the matter if we mean to do any. thing in the field of federal legislation.
 Regulation of Railroads.
 No one, 1 am sure, would wish to take any backward step. The regula- tion of the railways of the country by federal commission has had admirable results and has fully justified the hopes and expectations of those by whom the policy of regulation was originally proposed. The question is not what should we undo? It is, whether there is anything else we can do that would supply us with effective means. in the very process of regula- tion, for bettering the conditions un- der which the railroads are operated and for making them more useful serv- ants of the country as a whole. It seems to me that it might be the part of wisdom, therefore, before further legislation in this field is attempted, to T. l. IL