Fergus County Democrat., 1916-06-15
FERGUS COUNTY DEMOCRAT

tAN, tHc fSpuh}5tan party OppoStS
what Hamilton stood Tor century
ago The foandot OF the republican
party and the founder uf tho demo
cratic party, placing their conntrys
happiness above every ether consider
elton. forgot partisanship and made
American neutrality Il national creed
We who follow Jefferson stand where
.,@f.e, son stood, but we look in vain
~ . ign irom the present leaders of
sse republican party to show that they
follow whore Hamilton led Where
Hamilton counsoled moderation they
denouncc il. Whore Hamilton thought
cEly of country, they think only Of
seif, Where Hamilton placed patriot-
ism above partisanship they placed
part isaaship above patriotism How
then do they dare to speak for the
great body of American citizens who
term the rank and file of the repub
l,an party? DO these leaders believe
that their republicanism is better
republicanism than Hamilton's. their
AmcricaniSm purer Americanism
than that of Washingtono
III Washington was right IL Joffer
son was right; If Hamilton was right.
il Lincoln was right; then the presi
dent of the United States is right to-
day. IT the republican leaders are
right, then Lincoln was wrong. and
jefferson was wrong. and Hamilton
was wrong. and Washington was
wrong
The Justification OF our policy OF
neutrality is expressed by Mr.. Glynn
in these words:
Before this declaration every war
was a world-war; since this declar
alton nearly every war has been 10.
cal war. Before this declaration war
was whirlpool. eyer-increasing In
area and in its whirl dragging down
the nations on the earth. Since this
declaration war has become sea Of
trouble upon which nations embark
only from self will, from selfinterest,
or the necessity Of geographical posi-
tiun. Of financial obligation or political
alliance
Neutrality is the policy which has
Kept MS at peace while Europe has
been driving the nails Of war through
the hands and feet Of q crucified hu.
manity.
The praises Of this policy are not
written in the ruins OF American
homes, not in the wreck of American
industries, not in the mourning of
American families. They are found
in the myriad evidences Of prosperity
and plenty that makes this contented
land From every whirling spindle in
America from every factory wheel
that turns from every growing thing
that breathes its prayer of plenty to
the skies, from every quiet school
from every crowded mart, from every
peaceful home goes IN n song OF
praise, "A paean Of thanksgiving to
hymn a nations tribute to the states
manship that has brought these things
to pass"
The issue raised by demncraey's op,
ponents OF the vigor with which our
neutrality has been enforced Is dealt
with by the records Of history
when Grant was president, during
the war between Spain and the Span.
ish West Indies, a Spanish eunboat
seized the vessel Virginus, flying the
American flag, and Il Spanish com.
ntandant in cold blood shot the cap.
lain OF the Nirginius,' 36 of the crew
aNi l6 OF lie passengers.
"But we didn't 20 to war Grant set
tied our troubles by negotiation just
g, the president Of the United States
Ia trying to do today.
when Harrison was president the
people of Chile conceived II violent
dislike to the United States for our in
sistence upon neutrality during the
| Chilean revolution. When this feeling
was at its height one junior officer
from The United States warship Balt.
more was killed outright in The streets
of Valparaiso and l6 of our sailors
| wounded, of whom one afterwards
died.
But We didn't go to war, Harrison
settled cur troubles by negotiation
Just as tho president Of the United
States Is trying to do today
when Lincoln was president this
cDun'ry's righta were violated on every
side. England. Russia France and
Spain were guilty of such fragrant vio-
lations that Secretary of State Seward