The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-02-16

ton of the life and liberty OF Amer
lean citizens in the exercise OF their
Just rights, and throughout the world
the phrase too proud to fight became
the byword of derision and contempt
for the government OF the United
States. Later, in another theater OF
war-the Observation-Disclosures 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 believe that, now mat
ter how shocked the American gov
eminent might be, its resolution would
expend itself in words They had
learned to believe that 1t was safe
to kill Americans-and the world be-
lieved with them. Our diplomacy has
lost its authority and influence, be-
cause we have been brave in words
and irresolute in action"
Discussing his third criticism-"a
loss OF moral forces Of the civilized
world through failure to truly inter-
pret to the world the spirit OF Amer
lean democracy'-Mr. Root alluded to
the violation of Belgium's neutrality
and held that "the American party
were entitled not merely to feel, but
to speak concerning the wrong done
to Belgium"
"a single official expression by the
United States" he said, "a single SEN
tence denying assent and recording
disapproval of what Germany did in
Belgium would have given to the
people of America that leadership to
which they were entitled in their
earnest cropping for the light. 1t would
have ranged behind American leader
shin the conscience and morality OF
the neutral world. 1t would have
brought to American diplomacy the
respect and strength Of loyalty to a
great cause. But it was not to be.
The American government failed to
rise to the demands of the great oc-
casion.
"When our government failed to
tell the truth about Belgium. 1t lost
the opportunity for leadership OF the
moral sense Of the American people,
and it lost the power which a knowl-
edge OF that leadership and a SYM
pathetic response from the moral
sense Of the world would have given
to our diplomacy. When our govern
ment failed to make any provision
whatever for defending Its rights IN
case they should be trampled upon, 1t
lost the power which q belief In its
readiness and will to maintain Its
rights would have given to its diplo-
matte representations. When our
government failed to make any pro
vision whatever for defending It's
rights in case they should be tram
pled unon, it lost the power which
belief in its readiness and will to
maintain would have given to its dip
lomatic representations When our
government gave notice to Germany
that 1T would destroy American lives
and American ships at Its peril, our
words. which would have been potent
II sustained by adequate preparation
to make them good, and by the pres
tige and authority Of the moral lead
ership Of a great people, in great
cause. we're treated with a contempt
which should have been foreseen;
and when our government failed to
make those words good, its diplomacy
was bankrupt.
"tIpon the record Of performance
which have tried to describe, will the
American people say that the DEM
ocratic party is entitled to be con-
tinued in power?
"The defects Of the present admin
istration arise from two distinct
causes. The first is the temperament
and training of the president. The
second is the incapacity Of the DEM
ocratic party as it is represented In
Washington in both the legislative
and in the executive departments
either to originate wise policies or
to follow them when proposed by
others or to administer them effective
Nv IL they are established The DEM
ocrats in Congress are never con-
trolled except with club, and gov
ernment with a club is always spas
modic and defective.
"These characteristics will not
change; President Wilson cannot
change his nature; the Democratic
party will not change the character
Of its representatives; and there is no
escape from having the same causes
Of weakness which have controlled
our government for the last three
wears continued in the future except
The withdrawal of power from the
Democratic party. We must not de-
ceive ourselves by assuming that the