The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1916-03-31
weak against the aggression of the

strong.
To this people the invasion of Bel
GUM brought a shock of amazement
and horror. II 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. II
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 II 1t were right is trea-
son to the right.
The Wrong Done to Belgium.
The American people were 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 n 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
should be observed.
There was no question here of inter
fering In the quarrels of Europe. We
had right to be neutral, and we were
neutral as to the quarrel between Ger
many and France. but when as an In
cident to the prosecution of that
quarrel Germany broke the law which
we were entitled to have preserved
and which she had agreed with us to
preserve we were entitled to be heard
in the assertion OF our own national
right
Neutral Between Right and Wronsl
Yet the American government ac-
guessed In the treatment OF Belgium
and the destruction OF the law OF ma
tons. Without one word OF objection
or dissent TO the Reputation OF law
or the breach OF our treaty or the yio-
lation of Justice and humanity in the
treatment OF Belgium our government
enjolned upon the people OF the United
States an undlscriminating and all en-
bracing neutrality. and the president
admonished the people that they must
be neutral In all respects In act and
word and thought and sentiment We
were to be not merely neutral as to the
quarrels OF Europe, but neutral as to
the treatment Of Belgium. neutral be-
tween right and wrong. neutral be-
tween justice and injustice, neutral be
tween humanity and cruelty. neutral
between liberty and oppression. Our
government did more than acquiesce.
for In the first Lnsitnnia note. with the
unspeakabie horrors of the conquest
OF Belgium still fresh in our minds. on
the very day after the report OF tho
Bryce commission on Belgian ntroci-
ties. II wrote these words to the gov
eminent OF Germany:
Recalling the humane and enlightened
attitude hitherto assumed by tho imperial
German government In matters OF inter
national right and particularly with re-
gard to the freedom of the seas having
learned TO recognize tho German Views
and the German influence in tho fieid Of
,,,e,, ~ mn s. ~ aiwnys ensased
-
s,.,a. annaa-s, =. anrra,.,r a. -.
ment Of Helpium +, mIsr.nrcscnto,,
the people of tho United states IN that
aco,iiescence nnd nppnrcnt apnrovaI
II was not necessary that tho limited
states sbould go 10 wnr in derens.
OF the violated Inv. single offic,oI
bv Tho gov.rnma,, -, ,h.