Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-06-23

the trust which the privileges Of citizen
ship repose in him and disIoyal to his
country.
We therefore condemn as subversive Of
this nations unity and integrity, and as
destructive Of its welfare. the activities
and designs Of every group or organiza-
ton, political or otherwise. that has for its
object the advancement of the interest Of
foreign power. whether such object is
promoted by intimidatine the government.
a political party or representatives Of the
people, or which is calculated and tends
to divide our people into antagonistic
groups and thus to destroy that complete
agreement and solidarity of the people
and that unity Of sentiment and national
purpose so essential to the perpetuity of
the nation and its free institutions
We condemn all alliances and combina-
tons of individuals in this country. Of what
ever nationality or descent, who agree and
conspire together for the purpose of embar-
RAISING or weakening our government or
of improperly influencing or coercing our
public representatives in dealing or neeo-
tiating with any foreign power We charge
that such conspiracies among a limited
number exist and have been instigated for
the purpose Of advancing the interests of
foreign countries to the prejudice and
detriment Of our own country. We con-
denim any political party which. in view
Of the activity Of such conspirators, sur
renders its integrity or modifies its policy.
PREPAREDNESS.
Along with the proof of our character
as nation must 60 the proof Of our power
to play the part that legitimately belongs
to us. The people Of the United States love
peace. They respect the rights and covet
the friendship Of all other nations. They
desire neither any additional territory nor
any advantage which cannot be peacefully
gained by their skill. their industry or their
enterprise. but they insist upon having
absolute freedom OF national life and policy.
and feel that they owe it to themselves
and to the role Of spirited independence.
which it is their sole ambition to play,
that they should render themselves secure
against the hazard of interference from
any quarter. and should be able to protect
their rights upon the seas or in any part
Of the world.
We therefore favor the maintenance of
an army fully adequate to the require
ments of order, of safety and of the pro-
lection of the nations rights, the fullest
development Of modern methods of sea-
coast defense and the maintenance of an
adequate reserve Of citizens trained to
arms and prepared to safeguard the people
and territory of the United States against
any danger Of hostile action which may
Unexpectedly arise. and fixed policy for
the continuous development of a navy
worthy to support the great naval tradi-
tons Of the United States and fully equal
to the international tasks which the United
States hopes and expects to take part in
performing. The plans and enactments
OF the present Congress afford substantial
proof of our purpose in this exieent matter.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The Democratic administration has
throughout the present war scrupulously
and successfully held to the old paths of
neutrality and of the peaceful pursuit Of
the legitimate objects Of our national life,
which statesmen Of all parties and creeds
have prescribed for themselves in America
since the beginning Of our history But
the circumstances Of the last two years
lave revealed necessities of international
action which no former generation can
have foreseen. We hold II is the duty of
the United States to use its power not
only to make itself safe at home, but also
to make secure its just interests through
out the world. and. both for this end and
in the interest Of humanity. to assist the
world in securing settled peace and justice.
The present administration has con-
sistently sought to act upon and realize in
its conduct Of the foreign affairs Of the
nation the principle that should be the
object Of any association of the nations
formed to secure the peace of the world
and the maintenance OF national and in
dividual rights. II has followed the high
est American traditions. 1t has preferred
respect for the fundamental rights of
smaller states, even to property interests.
and has secured the friendship of the
people OF these states for the United States
by refusing to make a mere material in
terest an excuse for the assertion of our
superior power against the dignity of their
sovereign independence.
Ii has regarded the lives of its citizens
and the claims Of humanity as of greater
moment than material rights, and peace
as the best basis for the just settlement
OF commercial claims. II has made the
honor and ideals Of the United States its
standard alike in negotiation and action.
PAN-AMERcAN CONCORD.
We recognize now, as we have always
recognized, definite and common interes st
between the United States with other peo-
pies and republics Of the western hemis-
phere in all matters Of national independ-
ence and free political development. We
favor the establishment and maintenance
OF the closest relations of amity and mu-
tual helpfulness between the United States
and the other republics of the American
continents for the support of peace and
promotion Of common prosperity.
MERCHANT MARINE.
We heartily indorse the purposes and
policy of the pending shipping bill and
favor all such additional measures of con-