The Washington herald., 1915-03-21
President Fillmore on War.

LdltOr OF Inc Washington Herald:
In his last message to Congress on
december 6, 1852, President Willard
Fillmore gave some striking reasons
why the United States should remain
neutral when nations of Europe were
at war. President Fillmore's remarks
are very appropriate for this time,
and | shall be pleased to have you
publish them. as follows:
1T has been the uniform policy OF
this government. from its foundation
to the present day, to abstain from
all interference in the domestic af-
fairs of other nations. The COnse-
Quence has been that while the ma
tons of Europe have been engaged
in desolating wars our country has
pursued its peaceful course to uneN-
ampled prosperity and happiness. The
wars in which we have been COM
PEELED to engage in defense OF the
rights and honor of the country have
been, fortunately, of short duration.
During the terrific contest of ma
ton against nation which succeeded
the French Revolution we We're en-
abled by the wisdom and frmneSs Of
President Washington to maintain our
neutrality. While other nations were
drawn into this wide-sweeping Whirl-
pool, we sat quiet and unmoved upon
their numerous armies was wasted by
disease or persisted by hundreds or
thousands upon the battlefield, the
youths of this favored land were per-
mittcd to enjoy its blessings of peace
beneath the paternal roof. While the
States of Europe incurred enormous
debts, under the burden of which
their subjects still groan, and which
must absorb no small part of the
product of the honest Industry of
those countries for generations to
come the United States have once been
enabled to exhibit the proud spectacle
of a nation free from public debt, and
II permitted to pursue our prosper
Gus way for 4 few years longer in
peace We may do the same again.
But it is now said by some that
this policy must be changed. Europe
is no longer separated from us by
voyage of months, but steam naviEa
ton has brought her within a few
days sail of our shores. We see more
of her movements and take deeper
interest in her controversies. AL
though no one proposes that we should
join the fraternity of potentates who
have for ages lavished the blood and
treasure OF their subjects in main
tanning the balance of power yet II
is said that we ought to interfere
between contending sovereigns and
their subjects for the purpose OF over
throwing the monarchies of Europe
and establishing in their place re-
publican institutions. 1t is alleged
that we have heretofore pursued
different course from a sense of our
weakness. but that now our conscious
strength dictates n change In policy.
and that it is consequently our duty
tn mir rp1n in, md oil
those who are struggling for liberty.
This is a most seductive but dan
gcrous appeal to the generous sym
pathies of frcemen. Enjoying. rs we
do. the blessings of free govern
ment. there is no man Who has an
American heart that would not rejoice
to see these blessings extended to all
other nations. We cannot witness tho
struggle between the oppressed and
his oppressor anywhere without the
deepest sympathy for the former and
the most anxious desire for his tri-
umph. Nevertheless is 1t prudent or is
it wise to involve ourselves in these
foreign wars? Is it indeed true that
we have heretofore refrained from
doing so merely from the degrading
motive of a conscious weakness? For
the honor OF the patriots who have
gone before us. / cannot admit II.
Men OF the revolution. who drew the
sword against the expressions of the
mother country And pledged to Heaven
their lives. their fortunes. AMI their
sacred honor to maintain their Tree.
dom. could never have been actuated
by 80 unworthy a motive. They knew
no weakness or fear where right or
duty pointed the way. and IL is
libel upon their fair fame for us. while
We enjoy the blessings for which they
SO nobly fought and bled. to insin-
uate 1t. The truth is that the course
which they pursued was aictatsi by
a stern sense of international justice,
by statesmanlike prudence and a
far-seeing wisdom. looking not mere
ly to the present necessities but to
the permanent safety and interest of
the country. They knew that the
world is governed less by sympathy
than by reason and force: that IL was
not possible for this nation TO be-
come a 'propagandist' of free princi-
pies without arraying against il the
combined powers of Europe, and that
the result was more likely to be the
overthrow Of republican liberty here
than its establishment there History
has been written in vain for those
who can doubt this. Our poll
icy il wisely to govern ourselves, and
thereby TO set such an example of ma =
tional justice. prosperity, and true
glory as shall teach 60 all nations the
blessings Of self-government and the