Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-15

lief that the leader of n nation who
pungcs his people into an unnecessary
war; like Pontius Plate vainly washes
his hands of innocent blood while the
earth quakcs and the heavens are dark
cncd and thousands give up the
ghost"
Republican Party False to Its Tradi-
tions.
Speaking of the opposition to the
presidents peace policy. the speaker
continued:
by opposing what we stand for to-
day the Republican party opposes what
Hamilton stood for n century ago. Tho
founder of the Republican party and
the founder of the Democratic party,
placing their country's happiness above
every other consideration. forgot par
tisnnship and made American neutral.
ity Il national creed. We who follow
Jefferson stand where jefferson stood.
but we look in vain for sign from the
present leaders of the Republican par.
ty to show that they follow where
Hamilton led. Where Hamilton coun-
sclcd moderation they denounce it.
Where Hamilton thought only Of coun.
try they think only of self. Where
Hamilton placed patriotism above par
tisanship they place partisanship
above patriotism. How then do they
dare to speak for the great body of
American citizens who form the rank
and file of the Republican party? Do
these leaders believe that their Repub-
licanism Is II better Republicanism than
Hnmiltons. their Americanism Il purer
Americanism than that of Washington Z?
"1f Washington was right, II Jeffer
son was right, If Hamilton was right
If Lincoln was right, then the presi-
dent of the United States is right to-
day. If the Republican leaders are
right then Lincoln was wrong and JEFF
ferson was wrong and Hamilton was
wrong and Washington was wrong"
The Justification of our policy of neu-
trality IS expressed by Mr.. Glynn in
these words:
Before this declaration every war
was world war; since this declara
ton nearly every war has been local
war. Before this declaration war was
n whirlpool. ever increasing in area
and in its whirl dragging down the
nations Of the earth; since this dec.
laration war has become n sea of trou.
bic upon which nations embark only
from self will, from self interest or the
necessity Of geographical position, of
financial obligation or political ALI.
ance.
Neutrality Kept Us at Peace.
Neutrality is the policy which has
kept us at peace while Europe has been
driving the nails of war through the
hands and feet of crucihed human.
ity.
THE praises of this policy are not
written in the ruins of American
homes, not on the wreck Of American
industries, not In the mourning Ot
American families; they are found in
the myriad evidences of prosperity
and plenty that make this contented
land. From every whirling spindle in
America, from every factory wheel
that turns, from every growing thing
that brcathcS its prayer Of plenty to
the skies, from every quiet school. from
every crowded mart, from every peace
full home goes up Il song Of praise, q
paean of Thanksgiving to hymn ma.
! TONS tribute to the craftsmanship that
has brought these things to pass"
The issue raised by Democracy's op
poncntS of the vlgor with which Oul
neutrality has been enforced Is dealt
nf ,c.A
when Grant was president, during
the war between Spain and the Span.
ish West Indies, u Spanish gunboat
seized the vessel Virginius flying the
American flag and n Spanish com
mandant In cold blood shot the captain
of the Nirginius thirty-six of the Grew
and sixteen of the passengers,
But we didn't go to war. Grant set.
tied our troubles by negotiation just
MS the president of the United States
Is trying to do today.
When Harrison was president the
people of Chile conceived a violent dis.
like 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 Baltl-
more was killed outright in the streets
! Of Valparaiso and sixteen of our sail
ors wounded. of whom one afterward
died.
Negotiation Better Than War.
But we didn't go TO war. Harrison
settled our troubles by negotiation just
as the president of the United States
/ Is trying to do today.
| when Lincoln was president this
! country's rights were violated on every
side. England, Russia, France and
/ Spain We're guilty of such fragrant VIC
lations that Secretary of State Seward
advanced n plan to go to war with all
/ Of them mt one and the same time.
But we didn't go to war. Lincoln
settled our troubles by negotiation just
rs the president is trying to do today.
when Pierce was president the Brit.
ish minister in this country and three
OF his counsel violated our neutrality
! during the Crlmean war. We gave
these representatives of Great Britain
/ their passports ANA sent them home.
But we didn't go to war. Pierce
! settled our troubles by negotiation just
rs the president Of the United States Is
trying TO do today.
"When Van Buren, was president Il
detachment of Canadian militia, during
the internal troubles in Canadn, board