The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-16

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American rights has long since passed.
The brave words with which we be-
gan the controversy had produced no
erect, because they were read In the
light OF two extraordinary events.
One was the report Of the Austrian
ambassador, Mr. Dumba, to his gov
eminent that when the American note
OF Feb. 10 was received he asked the
secretary OF state, Mr.. Bryan. whether
It meant business and received an an
swer which satisfied him that it did
not, but was intended for effect at
home in America.
Too Proud to Fight"
The other event was the strange and
unfortunate declaration Of the presi-
dent in public speech in Philadelphia
the fourth day after the sinking OF
the Lusitania that "a man may be too
proud to fight" Whatever the Aus
trian ambassador was in fact told by
the secretary Of state, the impression
which he reported was supported by
the events which followed. Whatever
the president did mean, his declaration,
made in public at that solemn time,
amid the horror and mourning of all
our people over the murder OF their
children, was accepted the world over
as presenting the attitude Of the Amer
lean government toward the protection
of the life and liberty of American
citizens in the exercise Of their just
rights, and throughout the world the
phrase too proud to fight became
byword of derisiOn and contempt for
the government of the United States.
| Later, In another theater of Wharf.-The
Mediterranean-Austria, and perhaps
Turkey also, resumed the practice.
The Ancona and then the Persia were
destroyed, and more Americans were
killed. Why should they not resume
the practice? They had learned to be-
lteve that, no matter how shocked the
American government might be, its
resolution would eXpend itself in
words. They had learned to believe
that it was safe to kill Americans, and
the world believed with them.
shaking FIST ana ringer.
No man should draw a pistol who
dares not shoot. The government that
shakes its fist first and its finger after
ward falls into contempt. Our diplo-
macy has lost its authority and infiu-
ence because we have been brave in
words and irresolute in action. Men
may say that the words of our diplo
matte notes were justified; men may
say that our inaction was justified, but
no man can say that both were wise
and creditable.
! have said that this government lost
the moral forces of the world by not
truly interpreting the spirit Of the
American democracy.
The American democracy stands for
something more than beef and cotton
and grain and manufactures; stands
for something that cannot be measured
by rates Of exchange and does not rise
Or fall with the balance of trade. The
American people, informed by their
own experience that is confirmed by
their observation of international life,
have come to see that the independence
of nations, the liberty of their peoples.
justice and humanity cannot be main
tanned upon the complaisance. the good
nature, the kindly feeling of the strong
toward the weak; that real independ-
ence, real liberty, cannot rest upon Suf-
ferance; that peace and liberty can be
preserved only by the authority and
observance of rules of national con-
duct founded upon the principles of
justice and humanity; only by the es-
tablishment of law among nations, re
sponsive to the enlightened public opin-
ion of mankind. To them liberty
means not liberty for themselves alone,
but for all who are oppressed. Justice
means not justice for themselves
alone but a shield for all who are
weak against the aggression OF the
strong.
To this people the invasion of Bel
GUM brought a shock of amaZement
and horror. If the public opinion of the
world was to remain silent upon that.
neutral upon that, then all talk about
peace and justice and international law
and the rights of man, the progress of
humanity and the spread of liberty is
idle patter, mere weak sentimentality;
then opinion is powerless and brute
force rules and will rule the world. If
no difference is recognized between
right and wrong then there are no
moral standards. There come times in
the lives of nations as of men when to
treat wrong as if it We're right is trea-
son to the right.
The Wrong Done to Belgium.
The American people We're entitled
not merely to feel. but to speak con-
corning the wrong done to Belgium.
1t was not like Interference in the in
ternal affairs of Mexico or any other
nation. for this was an International
wrong. The law protecting Belgium
which was violated was our law and
the law of every other civilized coun-
try. That law was the protection of
our peace and security. 1t was our
safeguard against the necessity of
maintaining great ornaments and
wasting our substance in continual
readiness for war. Moreover, that law
was written into a solemn and formal
convention, signed and ratified by Ger
many and Belgium and France and the
United States in which those other
countries agreed with us that the law
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