The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-01
Won t Speak at American
Meeting Saying Government
Has Made Itself Ineffective
SAYS WORLD LOOKS ON
US AS EDWARDS
Thinks America Disgraced It.
self By Not Going to War
With Germany Over Bel
GUM and Again in Mexico

New FORK. Nov. 30-Professor Sam
uel T. Dutton, of Columbia University.
secretary of the American COMMITTEES
for American any Syrian relief. toda y
gave out a letter 10 request that
the former President speak at d mass
meeting for the relief Of the victims
OF Armenian atrocities TO be held in
this city soon.
Colonel Roosevslts reply was an
emphatic refusal to make any address
before such Il meeting, on the grou nd
that. because Of its adoption of the
principles of peace at any price men.
or the professional pacincist.' the
American government absolutely in
effective for International righteous =
ness, and that any action ii may take
at any time toward this goal will be
/ to bring upon Americans only the de-
risionAof the world, which already looks
upoa us a nation of poltroons and
towards. both because of our protes =
tatiatss- 4sf-tse,a tfs.lit y between right
and wrong In Belgium and Armenia.
and because OF our shanful stand In
Mexico. These are the coionels views
and he sets them forth In a letter that
arrafgns the administration for the
past Ave years and fails not to seattle
every pacificist in u&lnisfakable LAM
guage The letter lie as follows
Text of Letter.
nv dear Mr.. Dutton.-Even TO nerves
duIled and faded by the heat Of hor-
rors Of the past year and half the
news OF the terrible fate that
has befallen the Armenians must give
fresh shock of sympathy and indig
nation. Let me emphaticaliy point out
that the sympathy is useless unless II
lis accompanied with Indignation, and
that the indignation Is useless II It
exhausts itself In words instead OF
taking shape in deeds
II thls people through ITS govern
ment had not shirked It's duty In Mex
CO for the last five years. and IL this
people. through its government. had
not shirked it's duty in connection with
/ the world war for the last sixteen
months. We would now be able to take
effective action on behalf of Armenia
Mass meetings on behalf of the Ar
menians amount to nothing whatever
III they area mere methods of getting
"a sentimeeEai. but ineffective and safe
outlet to the feeling of those engaged
in them. Indeed they amount TO less
than nothing. The habit of giving
expression to feelings without fol
lowing the expression by action is in
the end thoroughly detrimental both
to the willpower and to the morality
W Tue people concerned
Ineffective n China.
As long as this government proceeds,
whether az regards Mexico or regards
Germany, whether as regards the Eu-
ropeean war. or as regards Belgium on
the principles of the peace a, any
price man. OF the professional pacihst,
just so long II will be absolutely In
effective for international righteous
ness RS China itself. The men ~ no act
on the motto safety first" are acting
up to a motto which could be appro-
priatelv used by the men on a sink
ing steamer who jumped into the
boats ahead OF the woman and children.
and who, at least, do not commemorate
this fact by wearing buttons with
safety first" on them as a device. TN
Ill we put honor and duty first. and are
willing to risk something in order 70
achieve righteousness, both for our
selves and for Others we shall accom-
pltsh nothing; and we shall earn and
deserve the contempt of the strong
nations of mankind.
One reason why do not wish to
take part In A mass meeting only for