American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-02-03

|only of Europe but of Central and South America, here in
our own western continent, without discovering the al
|most universal feeling of distrust, if not of bitterness,
which envelopes us on every hand.
In the estimation and belief of other people and other
nations our professed neutrality is tempered by the de-
|sire for commercial gain. In the minds of our neighbors
to the south, our policy has descended from the high plane
of a firm and generous regard for younger and smaller
nations, such as characterized the pronouncement of Mon
roe, to inefficient and timid ~meddling, not unaccompan-
led by an ostentatious display of unsolicited advice.
We seem, from their viewpoint, to be without distinct
aims-irrevocably committed, it is true, to the advance
ment of peace and the elimination of war-but anxious
that it shall be known at all times that the instrumental
tiles of torture and death are to be found at the accus-
toned market place at slightly increased prices. 1t is not
my purpose in these brief minutes and at this late hour
to seek to fix the blame for this situation. In fact, | am
not so much interested in who is to blame as to who is to
remedy the situation. But that such views as I have re-
ferred to are everywhere abroad entertained and that the
tsituation presents a matter worthy of the earnest cOnsid-
Grafton of all who truly love peace and sincesely covet, the
respect Of other snationsfOr our country cannot be doubt
fed:* Our people are mot as a people ~Shylocks. We are not
1entitled to stand as !, PPharisee among the. nations There
is in fact, a deep and profound conviction, resting in the1
minds of the sAmerican people relative to this crisis and as
ftS what our attitude should be !. repeat, our politics and
our policies tafT not the true expression'o Of that CONVECTION
but a sorry misrepresentation. : 50 =, .r. 4
ss'"<a>eS i>sv* ~nas 49, y . y "A go ~ sssa-- &Ss' @rs ~
And can anyone on doubt that this feeling thus entertained
toward us bwOther powers is bearfng,fruit? Vessel after
vessel is beiSp seizedWnursued even to our own ports: the
lopen. door Of China closed in the face of the most solemn
treaties; o~urpsople drowned at sea and murdered on land:
Five years next of our ctizns were killed and
II wootnded' on the border and Within our own territory 4
} Five years. of degradation and nameless dishonor ,forr]
American womeag' five years Of robbery and murder OF
lAtrferican men; five years of grinding between the brutal
factions Of Mexico. Of tkesstarved, helpless, submerged 80
per cent. And today, all throughout that country, disease
and famine and .rapine and murder, %.incipient revolution
and d~issolving bands of outlaws hold hideous carnival un-
der the protecting aegis of the Monroe doctrine.
And what have we gained by thus patiently yielding up
our rights and benevolently sacrificing now and then a
few lives. We haven't the respect or good will OF those TO-
whom we have yielded so much, much less that OF other
countries. ." "
We haven't even escaped the burdens of war, for not
withstanding we are too proud to fight, through some
strange and mysterious process of reasoning we are face
to face with a most stupendous preparation for fight.
| have no desire to speak in personal disreSpect OF any
one, but / feel profoundly that any national policy which
has not at the heart of it the unswerving purpose to pro
tect American rights and American citizens spells in the
end not only d~isrespect, but is of itself an invitation to
those encroachments, that t%rampling upon our rights,
which must inevitably lead to complete national degre-
dation or to war. That, upon the other hand, a firm and
decided stand and announced policy that whatever 1t is
necessary to do in order to protect our rights and prevent
the lives of our citizens from being sacrificed will be done,
not only commands the respect of all nations, but lnVokeS
that consideration and that treatment upon the part OF
others which enables us to enjoy what we SO much desire;
peace. Let us make one thing so plain that no man VIII
dare to challenge it-that while we love peace and covet
friendship with all nations there are things for which we
would gladly forfeit these and all the blessings which are
supposed to accompany them, and that among those things
are the rights and lives Of our own people. Let 1t be known
that with the affairs of other nations, great or small, we
seek not to interfere, but security for the lives and prop
erty of our own are as we view it, indispensable to nation
al existence.
| agree that the tariff question will be an issue in the
next campaign and an important one, made doublys so by
conditions which will confront us after the war when the
gigantic industrial struggle for rehabilitation and for the
regaining of markets shall have been inaugurated. |
pause here to remark that the tariff policy of the Repub-