Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-07-28
SUPPORTED BY ACTIONS
OF FORMER PRESIDENTS
Wilson Following in Foot Steps
of Men Who Settled Difficult
ties by Negotiations Rather
Than War.

For the information of those who
are not familiar with the acts of the
former Presidents of the United
States i'll averting war with other ma
tions by displomntic negotiations, we
reprint below that portion of Martin
Glynn's speech in the st. Louis con.
vention dealing with the matter:
How Stands the Record?
The issue, raised by our opponents,
of the vigor with which our neutrnli-
ty has been enforced is IL comparative
issue which can be decided only by
comparative results.
And what arc the comparative re-
suits? How stands the record of this
administration compared with other
administrations?
When Grant Was President.
When Grant was President. during
the war between Spain and the Span
ish West Indies, Spanish gunboat
seized the Vessel Virginius, flying
the American flag, and IL Spanish com
mandant in cold blood shot the cap
tain of the Virginius, 36 of the crew
hHu ~ VI inc passengers.
But we did not go to war. Grant
settled our troubles by negotiations.
just as the President of the United
States is trying to do today.
When Harrison Was President.
When Benjamin HARRISON was
President the people of Chile concciv-
ed violent dislike to the United
States for our insistence upon ncu-
trality during the Chilean revolution
When this feeling was at its height
one junior officer from the United
States wnrship Baltimore was killed
outright in the streets of Valparaiso
and 16 Of our sailors wounded, of
whom one afterwards died. In mes
sage to Congress ON January 25,
1892, supported by Secretary of State
James G. Blain and nevidence sub
mitted by "Fighting Bob" Evans and
Winfield Scott Schlcy President IIar-
rison said this assault on our honor
chad its origin in tho hostility to
these men as sailors of the United
States wearing the uniform of the
Government, and not in any ndivid-
ual act of personal animosity," and
that this nation must take notice of
the event as an infraction of it's
rights and dignity" and a3 an inva-
sion of its international rights"
But we didn't go TO war. Har-
rison settled our troubles by neg0-
tiatiOn, just as The President of the
United States is trying to do today.
When Lincoln Was President.
When Lincoln was President this
country's rights were violated OH ev-
cry side. England, Russia, France
and Spain were guilty of such fla
grant violations that Secretary of
State Seward advanced plan TO 20
to war with all Of them ut one and
the same time.
France used every possible in
fluencc short of open war TO injurc
us. She not only permitted the build
ing of Confederate vessels in private
shipyards, but she allowed at least
two to be built in the national navy
yard of France, and she supplied
them with supplies from her Govern
ment arsenal.
And England did more.
Through his Secretary of State,
Lincoln called England to account for
the seizure of the U. S. S. Chesapeake
on the high seas bound from New
York to Portland, for the burning of
the U. 5. s. Roanoke off Bermuda, for
the seizure on Lake Erie Of the ship
Philo Parsons and the scuttling of the
Island Queen, the shooting of its en-
gineer, and the wounding of it's pas
sengers; and he protested to England
against the invasion of the territory
of the United States by band of
southern sympathizers from Canada,
who rode across the border into YER
mont, burned Il portion of st. Albans,
looted its homes, robbed its bank of
$2l1 900, killed one of its citizens, and
wounded several more. In singing
language he told England that she
violated neutrality by permitting the
use of British ports and British bor-
| ders as base for fclonous deparada-
tions against the citizens of the Unit
ed States, and he wrote into history
his diplomatic battle against Eng
land for letting loose the Alabama to
prey upon our commence, to destroy
S100, 100000 worth of property, to
| capture 81 of our vessels, and drive
our flag from off the seas. No ma
tion ever inflicted upon another ma
tion n more damnabie or more mad
dening wronf than England inflicted
upon the United States in the Ala
bnma outrage.
But we didn't go to war. Lincoln
settled our troubles by negotiations,
just as the President is doing today.
When Pierce Was President.
When Pierce was President the
British minister in this country violat-
ed our neutrality during the Crimean
War. We gave these representatives
of Great Britain their passports, and
sent them home.
But we didn't go to war. Pierce