The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-16
a51FRs OF THE ADMINISTRATION
CONTINUED FROM P~uA SAL
t,p,onffv and cruelty. n3uCIt


-, humanity and cruelty, Neutral
between liberty and oppression. Our
Dorornment did more than acquiesce
e.. IN the first Lusitania note, with the
s,oakable horrors of the conquest
- peIpium still fresh in our minds, on
tho very day after the report of the
DO commission on Belgian atroci-
- If wrote these words to the gov
eminent Of Germany:
pacaIling the humane and enlightened
..t,+,,4a hitherto assumed by the imperial
amman government in matters OF inter-
S',iiora1 right and particularly with re-
- IN the freedom of the seas having
tSar,ad TO recognize the German views
- tbe German influence in the field of
',-~rational obligation as always engaged
-, ne side of justice and humanity, etc.
And SO the government of the United
States appeared as approving the treat
,,sri of Belgium. 1t misrepresented
H.. people of the United States In that
sr5utescence and apparent approval.
If WAS not necessary that the United
ststae should go to war in defense
AZ the violated law. A single official
sytression by the government Of the
rnirp3 states, single sentence deny
In. assent and recording disapproval
NJ what Germany did in Belgium,
uor' have given to the people of
America that leadership to which they
7cpr,. entitled in their earnest cropping
Cor rha light. 1t would have ranged
.qlEd American leadership the con
ae4H-e and morality of the neutral
world
ID nas not to be. The American
comment failed to rise to the de-
mani. Of the great occasion. Gone
ve-r -he old love Of justice, the old
n9-stln for liberty, the old sympathy
win the oppressed, the old ideals of
an tflerica helping the world toward
s,-ar future, and there remained In
tl- s-es Of mankind only solicitude for
rs aud profit and prosperity.
Shrank From the Truth.
Tie American government could not
TVS have approved the treatment of
Be.c nm but under a mistaken policy
t s.fluk from speaking the truth.
S-e4 policies as [ have described are
En dangerous in their effect upon
t I'll nations and in their effect at
D le 1t is matter of universal eX-
utrlc that a weak and apprehensive
uptmeut Of foreign affairs invites en-
r1' 1meuts upon rights aud leads to
sgr lions in which it is difficult to
pr. ear war while a firm and frank
1oIeF Mt the outset prevents difficult
situations from arising and tends most
strongly to preserve peace. On the
oj. hand, If government is to be
81 rs in its diplomacy its own peo-
glr aust he ranged in its support by
leadership of opinion in national
gG-p worthy to awaken their patrt-
7-- and devotion
Hr have not been following the path
r,aace. We have been blindly stun
0' along the road that continued
v lead to inevitable war.
When our government failed to tell
tn ruth about Belgium it lost the
olaurtunity for leadership of the moral
se.,e Of the American people and it
l.7r The power which knowledge Of
thar leadership and a sympathetic re
sp.'Se from the moral sense of the
world would have given to our diploma
gy When our government failed to
la Ae any provision whatever for de-
BE- .ealng its rights in case they should
We trlmpled upon it lost the power
Which belief in its readiness and will
maintain its rights would have Civ
-- % its diplomatic representations.
'lrn our government gave notice to
1arWany that it would destroy Amer
lal lives and American ships at its
ng our words, which would have
Je potent if sustained by adequate
i ration to make them good and by
restige and authority of the moral
grship of a great people in great
Use, We're treated with a contempt
-..'h should have been foreseen, and
va.l our government failed to make
-4 -r words good its diplomacy was
a.aarupt
ppn the record of performance
| have tried to describe will the
american people say that the Demo
h over?
The defects of the present admins
wulon arise from two distinct causes.
The first is the temperament and train
luz # the president. The second is the
Lapacity of the Democratic party as
li IS represented in Washington both
Ii The legislative and in the executive
daartments either to originate wise
p"i"leS or to follow them when pro-
posed by others or to administer them
effectively if they are established. The
democrats in congress are never con-
u'iled except with a club, and gov
6rlment with club is always spas
modic and defective.
We must not deceive ourselves BY
assuming that the critical period aris-
Ing from the great war has passed.
The real dangers and the real tests of
tle strength of our institutions lie be-
iore U.S. The most exacting demands
uton the wisdom, the spirit and the
courage of our country are still to be
made. In this great conflict all forms
II government are on trial, democracy
with the rest. The principles of ma
honal morality are on trial We must
play our part in the universal trial
whether we will or no, for upon the re-
Sllt depends directly the question
whether our republic can endure.
What Are People to Expect?
Emf hat 70