The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-19

of neutral rights. But, as in the case
OF his note to Germany, he did moth
ing TO back up his words. They were
words and nothing else. He said he
would hold Mexico TO a strict re-
sponsibiTity." and he did not hold it
to any responsibility. He said he
would hold Germany to strict ac-
countahility," and he did not hold II
to any accountability, He said that the
English blockade was Illegal, ineifect-
i've, and indefensihle; and he neither
made his words goods nor acted on
them. He announced that he would
insist on all our rights; and then he
abandoned them ALL He wrote strong
notes to both sides: and he took no
action to back UP the notes to either
side We accomplished nothing with
either side. We incurred resentment
from both sides. In just one respect
we have succeeded We have induced
the bclligerents to agree on one point.
They agree in their utter contempt
for America, in their conviction that
the American people cannot be goaded
into yirile action to defend the lives
Of their men, women and children,
and in their certainty that we are ac-
tuated only by the desire to profit by
the agonies OF our European broth
ers.
Wilson BOmbastic.
Instead OF speaking softly and car
rying big stick. President Wilson
spoke enthusiastically and carried a
dishrag. For these oiIenses against us
blame the Germans. for nothing can
Hrnf I'D Rft NJ Nnl - ~
the lives Of men, women and children;
and l do not believe that under like
circumstances we would have done
what they have done. For their less
heinous oifenses against our proper
ty rights, blame the British, but l
blame them much less, and do be-
lieye that under like circumstances
we would have acted in the same way,
II other nations would have let us.
But | blame the United States even
more than blame Germany, and far
more than | blame England, for in
our case there has been no splendid
alloy OF heroism TO Offset the wrong
doing. Our offenses have been those
OF cold, short-sighted selishness and
mean timidity which has invited
and has therefore been partly respon-
sible for the German and British of
lenses against us. We could have
stopped them had we had any real
leadership in Washington; had we
shown any tirmness of soul and readi-
ness TO make effort and encounter
risk for high ideals. Kept us out of
war;" II the Wilson administration
could point to one sacrifice this ma
ton has made for the right, to one
indication of willingness to face loss
on behalf Of principle, It might de-
serve some credit. But 1t deserves
none. Thanks to President Wilson.
We have shown ourselves too craven
to stand up for our rights, or for the
rights Of weaker peoples. II we had
done as we ought to have done, our
neutrality would have been a badge
Of honor and not one of shame. If
we had shown emphatcally that we
intended to give square deal to ev-
eryone, and to demand square deal
for and from everyone. II we had done
for Mexico what under President Nc
Kinley we did for Cuba, If we had
protested against the invasion OF Bel
GUM, IL we had summarily stopped
the murder of our men, women and
children by German submarines, and
had then effectively asserted the free
dom OF the seas against the British,
we could have brought about the rec
ognition of our rights, and very posi-
bly, would have inspired sufficient con-
fidence and respect in the bellIgerents
to have enabled us to secure peace be-
fore this time. Had we so acted, we
would have proved ourselves loyal
Americans in the first place, and in
the second place we would have shown
a veritable, instead Of sham, loyalty
to humanity. We would have proved
that our devotion to humanity was
more than mere lip worship But let
it be understood from the beginning
that never can we or any other ma
ton take such position unless there
is both preparation in advance, and
also the willingness to sacrifice some
thing in order to compel the observ-
ance OF the nations own sovereign
rights, and in addition to enable It to
perform its duty to the rest OF man
kind.