Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-29
Tavenner's Capital Letter

puDllCdIlS- 1ney are autOCratS WIN
despise the civil authority and hate
the democratic principle of equality.
Mr. Chairman, the principles O, M
erty and equality cannot live IN the
military atmosphere. If we would go
forth to conquer and achieve military
renown as the Romans did, we must
expect the fate which befell the Ro'
man republic; if we would have a
Caeser to point his sword against gu,
nelghbors, we may expect that he VIII
at last turn that sword upon us. We
cannot have the glory Of a strong
government without paying the pen
atty in ruined liberties. (ApplauseJ
But this is no time to talk Of war
This is no time to talk Of a great
standing army. Great God, with III
teen or twenty millions of men IN
Europe grasping their swords ready to
strike at their brothers and nelghbors
does my friend from Massachusetts
not find enough of that sort OF thing
We read of the wars of the world OF
the nightly Persian hosts; we read OF
the nightly hosts of XerXes; we read
of Napoleon's brilliant campaign with
complaCency; but when we look just
across the acean today and behold that
which is occurring there, it seems tc
me that the martial spirit OF my
friend from Massachusetts would ma
enough to satisfy itself. tApplause
| on the democratic side.)
"Mr. Chairman, great armies arc
never justifable except in defense o.
! liberty or to strike from the hands o.
men the shackles of oppression anc
Of tyranny. applause on the demo
cratic side.) l would fear to trust the
destiny of this republic in the hands o.
admirals and generals. Their game Is
war. The glory that they shall ger
| if they get glory, is from war. l an
willing to have a small army as sor'
| of police force. | am willing to have
as good a navy as we need to protec'
our commerce and our country. But
Mr.. Chairman, ! dread the day that the
/ military power shall take precedence
over the civil power in this republic
| applause on the democratic side,
| Can you point to a nation OF mllltarlsn
that maintained the liberty OF tht
people Liberty cannot live ans
breathe in an atmosphere Of war an.
military power. Q God of this world
I give us this one spot upon which tt
maintain a free government. TAP
plause.1 Separated from all the war
ring nations Of the earth by broaC
oceans, separated from our neighbor!
by almost impossible barriers, /
would seem that God had planted thl!
great people here to work out shin
| ing example of liberty. hope we may
never again hear the tramp Of sol
diery upon these independent shores.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, that concludes
what l wanted to say. 1t is a sub
ject that I have always felt deepl!
about. / love this republic; l love lib
erty: l hate armies; l hate despotism
l would not bunch the tears of a ma
ton to make a diadem for a king.
am always thinking of Napoleon ant
the hundreds of thousands of French
peasants and French soldiers that la.
diving on the snow-Capped hills OF Rus
STA during his retreat. | care nothing
for Charlemange and all his glory Il
be divided among his crazy sons. But
Mr.. Chairman, l have dreamed tina
this republic, standing out single an
alone in the world where men cOult
have government based on the con
sent of the governed, should yet belt
the history of the world and leave
proof that men are capable Of this sor
of government"