Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-05-13
ROOSEVELT PLEADS
FOR QUICK ACTION
BY UNITED STATES


dent Theodore Roosevelt tonight made a
plea for prompt action by the United
States on account OF the Lustania disas-
ter, while commenting on President VIII
sons speech of last night to n gathering
of naturalized Americans in Philadelphia
Colonel Roosevelt was particularly in
terested In that part Of the Presidents
speech In which the latter referred t.
such a thing as a man icing too proud
to fight" and "a nation being so right thai,
it does not need to convince others by
force that it is right"
II think that China is entitled to draw
oil the comfort she can from this state
ment." said Colonel Roosevelt land 1t
would he we'll for the United States to
ponder seriously what the effect upon
China has been of managing her foreign
affairs during the last fifteen years on
the theory thus enunciated.
"Tf the United States liz satisfied with
occupation some time in tho future the
precise international position that China
now occupies then the United states can
afford to act on this theory. But Il can
not act on this theory II II desires to re-
tain or regain the position Won for it un-
der Washington and the mon who In the
days of Abraham Lincoln wore the Blue
under Grant aud the Gray under Lee.
HOPE FOR PROMPT ACTION
- very earnestly hope that We will
act promptly. The proper time for DELHI
Grafton was prior To- sending the message
that our government would hold Ger
many to strict accountability If it did
the things which it has now actually
done
THE $50 babies drowned on the Lus-
tan!a the hundreds Of women drowned
with them scores of these women and
children being Americans-and the Amer
team ship. the Outright. which was tor
p"doed offer an eloquent commentary
on the actual working Of the theory that
force is not necessary to assert rights
and that policy of blood and iron can
with efficacy be met with a policy of
blood and water.
II see IT stated in .he dispatches from
Washington that Germany now offers
to stop the practice of murder on the
high seas committed I'm violation OF the
neutral rights she is pledged to preserve,
If We will now abandon further neutral
rights. which by her treaty. she has
eolomnly pledged TO see that we exercise
without molestation.
"Such proposal is not even entitled
10 an answer Tn manufacture and ship
ment Of arms and ammunition to any
belligereut is moral immoral accord
Ing to the use to which the arms and
munitions are to be put # they are to
be used 70 prevent the redress of hideous
wrongs inflicted on Belgium. thcn it is
immoral to shin them. If the, ara 70
be used for the redress OF those
wrongs and the restoration of Belgium
to hep deeply Wrongcd and unoffending
people, then it is cuinenty moral to
send them.
COULD act N q HOURS.
Without twenty four hours de.av
this country should and could take Of
fcctivc action by declaring that in view
Of Germanv's murdorous offenses against
the rights of n.utrals all commerce with
Germany shall be forthwith forbidden
and all commerce Of every Kind permit
led ana encouraged with France, Eng
land and the rest of the civilized world.
This would not be a declaration Of
war It would merely prevent munitions
of wa being sent to a power which by
its conduct has shown Willingness t. use
munitions for the slaughter Of unoffend-
ing men. women and children.
Il do not believe that the firm asscr-
Well to remember there are things worse
than war.
"Lct us as a nation understand that
peace Is Of worth only when il Is the
handmaiden IF international righteous