Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-27
"Shadow and Shame"

shadow and Shame"
COLONEL ROOSEvELT's speech. delivered
~ at the instruction camp at Plattsburg,
reveals the ex-President at his worst-which
is very bad. indeed The speech is curious
admtXture OF personal egotism, splenetic jeal-
ousY OF the man who carries the burdens OF
this people. the false patriotism OF the lingo
and the miltarist and Measurements of ele-
mentary facts.
Colonel Roosevet's assertion that by the
conventions signed at The Hague the United
States agreed to protect the neutrality of
Belgium simply is not true. There is no
word or line in any Hague convention TO
which this country was a party by force of
which any such obligation was assumed The
Colonel has been reiterating this charge for
the last six months. but he has never under
taken to quote specific authority. The whole
thing is fgment of his too-vivid imagination
without one single atom OF substantial foun-
dation.
For months this mad lingo has been Shrek
ing and bowling for war with Germany de-
spite the fact, obvious to the meanest intel
llgence, that this country wants no foreign
war not forced on 1t by an aggressive foe
The wrongs OF Belgium cry to heaven, it is
true. but to avenge them is not our duty
The American tradition does not conceive
Uncle Sam in the role of an international
knight Grant wandering over the world and
rescuing abused peoples from the hand of
the opprcssor. That would be a rather large
order. III the first place even leaving Belgium
out OF the question, and Uncle Sam has a
good many troubles nearer home.
Nothing can be clearer than that in the
"hole conduct OF the troubled foreign rela-
tons that have had their inspiration in the
European war President Wilson has spoken
with the voice and carried out the will OF the
American people, There is an clement rep
pSE lta1 Ir all
plunge this country into war on the side of
the allies and another element that does what
IL can 10 help Germany, while third and
smaller element. of which Mr.. Bryan is the
chief eXemplar stands either for peace at
any price, or for peace at price higher than
the nation is willing to pay
But Woodrow Wilson is the living embodi-
ment OF the American conscience His notes
to Germany have been received with almost
universal acclaim and every step he has taken
TO uphold national honor and neutral rights
with almost universal approval When
Colonel Roosevelt says that the United
States has played gnoble part among the
nations he SANDERS not only the chief
magistrate, against whom he directs his
venom, but the great mass OF his fellow
countrymen.
This country does not want war and It
VIII do what honorably may be done to avoid
armed conflict. but it does not fear even the
dread arbitrament OF the sword There
stands the President-and his people with
him He who thinks Woodrow Wilson is a
coward is a fool unable to read mans char
nctcr in the history of his life and works
He who says that American diplomacy in this
crisis has been weak or futile brands himself
incompetent to understand or appreciate one
OF the most notable triumphs in al Diplomatic
history, for if what the German Chancellor
now says means anything, it is that COM
manders OF German submarines have been di-
rected TO comport themselves III strict accord
with the demands OF the American govern
ment.
1t is Colonel Rooscvelt's mind not that Of
the President, which ''dwells In the realm of
shadow and shame"