Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-06-25

Well then after fifty years is there
any suggestion in all this for us?
We must keep this fact in mind. The
nation stands in a m st critical, if
not perilous position-a place at
which we have already arrived and
must pass without delay. We must
not forget this other fact. We have
to meet our requirement with the
political constitution of our govern
ment as it is-with the army and
navy equipment just as it is. This is
not the time to discuss armament
and publish books with startling
titles like "Are We Ready ?" illus
trated by pictures of New York
City laid waste. Now when the
highest craftsmanship and noblest
sentiment and freest philanthropy
in the effort to establish world arbi-
tration and peace may seem to have
turned us from sufficient prepare
ton for war-now is not the time
to listen to the buster and grandil-
oquence of the ambitious and parti-
san grasping the occasion as oppor-
tune for notoriety. Our whole at
tention should be conferred on the
passing through what may easily
prove to be the most momentous di-
plomatic negotiations to which this
nation has ever been a party. We
should keep in mind that we are al
ready acting in the midst of irresis-
tible conditions, and that upon one
man more than ever before in our
political history rests the require
ment to make the advances and re-
treats of his diplomatic engag e.
ments without the slightest error.
You must agree with me that the
President of this nation stands today
face to face with this tremendous
international issue, the most solitary
man in history. Who is helping him?
To whom in his WEAKNESS can he
turn for intellectual refreshment
The reason for this condition is not
for present consideration. 1t may
be essential that in this manner, to
meet his task, he is brought in
touch with the Infinite. But the
duty is not his alone. 1t rests upon
us all, the humblest citizen of this
great Republic included, to put all
other considerations aside and sus-
tain him in the course he has taken.
And when it is all over, what will it
matter that, adverse perhaps to
your opinion, he has retreated when
he might have advanced, or appeared
to fail in appreciation of the nations
prestige, or submitted to humiliation,
if over against it all he has met the
great compulsion to carry this ma
ton by the indescribable horror OF
war? When it is all over, if We
escape the clash of arms, this nation
will have brought to the considera-
ton of international questions an
entirely new force for peace, an
argument gained from our own ex-
perience, an illustration for the
world. To create this, diplomatic
forbearance will have been carried
further perhaps than ever before ir
history and it may be forced to the
limit by the extremity Of oul
disarmament. Having passed the
crisis, we can take up deliberately
and faithfully the questions that re
late to peace and war which the
prevailing excitement now puts be
yond reasonable discussion, and il
the light of new conditions, adop
our policies with powers unsappet
by warfare and carry them to fines
Notwithstanding won a diplo
matte victory greater than that o.
the most decisive battle in the world