The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-05
he plan itself, which is always debat-

government, which it will never over
look, to defend the territory and peo-
pie Of this country 1t goes without
saying that it is the duty Of the ad-
minisration to have constantly in
mind with the utmost sensitiveness
every point of national honor.
but. gentlemen, after you have
said and accepted these obvious
things. your programme Of action is
still to be formed. When will YOU
act, and how viii you act"
1.-THE easiest thing is to strike. The
brutal thing is the impulsive thing.
No man has to think before he takes
aggressive action, but before a man
really conserves the honor by realiz-
ing the ideals of the nation he has
to think exactly what he will do and
how he will do it.
DO you think the glory Of America
would be enhanced by war Of con-
quest in Mexico? Do you think that
any act Of violence by powerful ma
tion like this against a weak neighbor
would reflect distinction upon the an
nails of the United States?
DO you think that it is our duty
to carry self-defense to point of die
tation into the affairs of another peo-
pie? The ideals OF America are writ
ten plain upon every page of Ameri-
can history.
Il want you to know how fully
realize whose servant am. 1 do not
own the government of the United
States even for the time being. I
have no right in the use of it to OK
press my own passions. l have no
right to express my own ambitions
for tine development Of America IL
those ambitions are not coincident
with che ambitions of the nation it,
self.
N"And have constantly to remind
myself that I am not the servant of
those who wish to enhance the value
Of their Mexican investments, that 1
am the servant of the rank and file OF
the people Of the United States.
Il get a great many letters. my fell
low citizens, from important and in
fiuential men in this country, but /
get a great many other letters. I get
letters from unknown men, from
humble men, from people whose
names never have been heard and
never will be recorded and there is
but one prayer in all of these letters:
"Mr. President, do not allow any
body TO persuade you that the people
of this country want war with any
body. 49,
II got Off train yesterday and as
was bidding goodbye to the engineer,
ne said in an undertone, Mr.. Presi-
dent, keep out OF Mexico and II one
man hal said that to me thousand
have said 1t to me as i have moved
about the country.
III / have opportunity to engage
them further in conversation, they
say of course. we know that you can
not govern the circumstances of the
case altogether. and it may be neces.
sary, but for Gods sake do not do il
unless 1t is necessary I
II am for the time being the spokes-
man Of such people. gentlemen. /
have not read history without obsery-
ing that the greatest forces in the
world and the only permanent forces
are the moral forces. 80.
Force will not accomplish ANYTHING
that Is permanent, venture to say. in
the great struggle which is going on
on the other side of the sea. The per-
manent things will be accomplished
afterward when the opinion of man.
Kind Is brought to bear upon the is
sues. and the only thing that will hold
tho world steady is this same silent, in
sistent, all powerful. opinion Of man.
kind.
Force can some times hold things
steady until opinion has time to form
but no force that was ever exerted ex-
ccpt In response to that opinion was
ever a conquering and predominant
force.
Il think the sentence in American
history that l myself am proudest of
Is that in the Introductory sentences
OF the Declaration Of independence
where the writer's say that a due re-
spect for the opinion Of mankind de-
mands that they state the reasons for
what they are about to do. :.
so. gentlemen, am willing. no
matter what my personal fortune
may be, to play for the verdict of
mankind. Personally it will be o.