The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-12-10

anything like this before II never
dreamed IL possible that men sworn
into its own citizenship. men drawn
out OF great free stocks such as sup
piled some OF tho best and strongest
elements OF that little, but how heroic.
nation that in high day OF old staked
its very life TO free itself from every
ENHANCEMENT that had darkened the
fortunes Of the older nations and set
up y 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 littls
while ago such a thing would have
seemed incredible. Because Il Was
incredible we made no preparation
for IL. We would have been almost
ashamed TO prepare for II. as II wa
were suspicious OF ourselves. our own
comrades and neighbors, But tho
ugly and incredible thing has actual
ly come about and we are without
adequate federal laws to deal with IT,
| urge you 10 enact such laws ut tho
earliest possible moment and feel that
In doing so ! am urging you to do
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 tho hand OF our power
should close over them at once. They
have formed plots To destroy property.
they have entered into conspiracies
against the neutrality OF the govern
ment. they have sought to pry into
every confidential transaction OF tho
government In order To serve interests
alien TO our own. IL In possible to
deal with these things very efrcctuaily.
need not suggest the terms In which
they may be dealt with.
Arc Disgrace to the Nation.
wish that II 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 tho self.
possession and misreprcsenting the
temper and principles of tho country
during these days of terrible war.
when Il would seem that every man
who was truly an American would
instinctively make II his duty and his
pride to keep the scales OF Judgment
.I "a
no nation but his own. But II cannot.
There arc some men among us. and
many resident abroad who. though
born and bred In the United States
and calling themselves Americana
have 30 forgotten themselves and
their honor az citizens as to put their
passionate sympathy with one or the
other side I'm the great European con
iiict above their regard for the peace
and dignity OF the United States They
also preach and practice disloyalty.
No laws, 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 selfposscsscd and
thoughtfully patriotic American must
feel when he thinks OF them and Of
tho 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 wa
must not fall into the patent error oi
gupposng that her real strength
comes from armamc1ts and mere safe
guards OF written law.
What In more important In. that the
industries and resources OF the coun.
try should be available and ready for
mobilization.
The transportation problem In nm
exceedingly serious and pressing one
In this country. There has from
time 90 time of late been reason
TO fear that our railroads would
not much longer be able to cope with
IL successfully, as at present equipped
and co.ordained. suggest that II
would be wise TO provide for com
mission OF inquiry to ascertain by Q
thorough canvass of the whole qucs.
tion whether our laws as at present
framed and administered are az serv.
iceable AZ they might be In the solu-
tion OF the problem. II is obviously .
problem that lies at the very founda-
tion OF our efficiency as n people. Such
an inquiry ought TO draw out every
circumstance and opinion worth con
sidering and we need to know all sides
OF the matter II we mean to do any.
thing I'm the field OF federal legislation.
Regulation OF Railroads.
No one, am sure. would wish tn
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 IN
not what should we undo7 IL is.
whether there IN anything else we can
do that would supply us with effective
means. I'm the very process OF regula.
ton, for bcttering the conditions un.
der which the railroads are operated
apH fnx txaLfu0 than mara m cfuI serv.