The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-19
Colonel Roosevelt
Speech at Detroit
Today
Colonel Roosevelt said:
Refer to No Candidacy.

have been very reluctant to make
speeches during these weeks imme-
diately preceding the national nomi-
mating conventions. because it is very
difficult to make people understand
that speeches at such time are not OF
the ordinary political type made in the
interest of some particular individually
candidacy. But 1 finally determined
that 1 would come here to Michigan
to say certain things which believe
should be said at this time What j
have to say to you will not be in the
interest of any man, and least of all
of myself. 1t will not refer to the
candidacy of any individual. 1t will
not refer to the policy of any party,
ought to, vitality concern the welfare
of the nation. My speech will be de-
voted exclusively to certain great prin-
ciples which should be fundamental in
this giant democratic commonwealth
of ours. Wherever 1 touch on an in
dividual, it will be because 1 cannot
make my meaning clear, save by
speaking of individuals who embody
or typify certain movements
There For Ford.
1 come here to Michigan because in
the primary for the selection of dele
gates to the Republican National con-
vention, Mr.. Ford was victorious, and
following on his victory here, he
showed a marked popular strength in
Nebraska and Pennsylvania. The eff
feet of this showing has been imme-
diately visible upon many of the poll
ticians within and without congress.
One of the leading anti-preparedness,
or peace-at-any-pri papers in New
York recently commented with great
satisfaction upon the defeat in the
lower house of congress of the pro-
posal to increase our regular army to
ESQ, 900 men. This paper stated that
originally the proposal was defeated
by only % votes, but when the vote
came up again ten days ago, it was
defeated by rs votes It continues CT
condense) "Of these 221 negative
votes. 5 were cast by Republicans, 40
being from the Central West, what
has come to be known as the Henry
the II from Michigan notable
change since it was proposed in the
House. Since then Mr.. Ford's large
votes in Michigan and Nebraska have
been recorded. All three Republican
congressman from Nebraska were OPP
posed. If this is not a pretty clear
indication as to prevailing anti-mili-
tarist temper in the Middle West,
what can be? 1t is as well refreshing
proof that there will be strong forces
in both party conventions to throw
their influence against the militarist
planks of Mr.. Roosevelt
This situation makes it advisable to
speak with courtesy but with entire
frankness of what the success of Mr.
Ford means, and is taken to mean,
and of the forces that have given Mr..
Ford his strength. 1t is in Michigan,
Mr.. Ford's own state, where the Ford
movement began, that L wish to say
what have to say on the subject.
Friendly to Ford.
For Mr.. Ford personally, 1 feel not
merely friendliness, but in many re-
spectS a very genuine admiration.
There is much in the methods and
very much in the purposes, with which
he has conducted his business, notably
in his relations to his working people,
that commands my hearty sympathy
and respect. Moreover, there is al
ways something attractive to an Amer
lean In the career of a man who has
raised himself from the Industrial
ranks. until he is one of the captains
of industry. But all that 1 have thus
said, can with truth be said of many,
perhaps of most of the Tories of the
Revolutionary War and of many or
most of the pacifists of the Civil
War, the extremists among
whom were popularity known
as Copper Heads. Many of these
Tories and Civil War pacifists were
men of fine character and upright
purpose, who sincerely believed in the
cause they advocated. They included
all the men who were the pacifists of
their day.
They Were Against War
These pacifists who formed so large
a proportion of the old-time Tories and
Copperheads abhorred and denounced
the militarism of Washington in 1776
and of Lincoln in 1851. They were
against all war and all preparedness
for war. In the Revolutionary contest
they insisted that Washington was the
embodiment of anarchic militarism.
Pacifists of Old.
Their purpose was to get the boys
of Bunker Hill and Valley Forge ''out
of the trenches" and bring them back
to their homes and make them quit
fighting. In 1864 they denounced Lin
coin as a military dictator. They
praised peace as the greatest of all
earthly blessings. They demanded that
the war should cease, and they wished
to get the boys of the army of the
Potomac out of the trenches" before
Christmas and bring them back to the
farm, the shop, and the counting
house. If these pacifists of the Rev
olution and Civil war had and their
way. they would have put an inme-
date stop to much suffering and much
loss of life. They would have secured
immediate peace. They would have
aVerted some years of war. They
would have turned men away from
military training into the path of or
binary civil occupation. They would
have secured the applause of every
peace at-any- price man at home and
abroad. And unwittingly they would
have utterly ruined this nation. They
would have made the countrymen of
Washington and the countrymen of
Lincoln objects of scorn and derision,
and they would have made of this
great Republic kissing and byword
among the nations of the earth. They
would have purchased peace at the
moment by ignoble submission to
wrong, by ignoble cowardice. They
would have rendered it certain in
each case that, for the one war they
averted at the moment, ten were en-
sured for the years to come. They
would have piled up an immeasura BILE
load of shame and suffering for their