The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-16
WESTC0TT DELIVERS


ItTeSlQ6. L WOutu nave ucEhioSCu phi
prosperity and added hundreds of mil
lions of taxation to the burdens of the
nation. It would have planted distrust
and hatred of the United States in
every South American republic. 1t
would have forfeited the respect of
the world. 1t would have substituted
the tenets Of Imperialism for the prin-
ciplss Of Amertcanism. 1t would have
prostituted the bravery and patriotism
of American arms to the greed and
avarfce of concessionartes. 1t would
have robbed the United States of the
grandeur of her mission amongst the
nations Of the earth. It would have
made might right and repudiated the
doctrines of Christianity. 1t would
have ignored the fundamental con-
captions OF moral progress and de-
MED the right OF fifteen millions Of
people to govern themselves. Ambi-
ton and greed were prepared to sac
rifice America and all that America
stands for. In order to acquire the
wealth OF Mexico The diplomacy of
'watchful waiting averted these ca
families and preserved in their original
purity the principles of American free
dom and Justice.
War with any European nation
would have set the world aflame and
STONED the march of progress for a
century. Would anyone have had 1t
so in order to affirm a 'virile Ameri-
canism'? Ts Write Americanism
bloodshed, destruction, the horrors OF
war and it's uncertainties?
War with Europe would have cut
asunder the moral forces that bind
the nations and left An age of dark
ness, anarchy and despair Standing
on the immutable foundations of such
Amertcanisn the schoolmaster ana
statesman, with consummate skill a
skill that commands the admiration
of the world. direct the forces OF
civilization, not with arms. but with
reason and moral pressure against the
excuses Of belligerent world With
! preternatural poise and clearness of
vision. he is plotting America through
the rushing storm.
| Weapons of Reason.
! who now can close his eyes to
the destiny of demo to make the
principles of civilization dominant to
bring the warning nations OF the earth
together In lasting peace? The pas
sions of men die. The truth lives.
! America has called TO Europe: Eu-
rope Is responding In terms OF a
revitalized civilization. The sublimest
! picture in civil history is that of a
plain America citizen manoeuvring
with the weapons Of reason and hu-
mainly against the navies and armies
of the contendlng nations. and bring
ing them in accord with the principles
of International law. The American
standard of peace and justice now
floats on the sea, 1t is unfurling over
the trenches of the struggling nations.
| From the vantage ground of imperish-
able Americanism the matchless craft
OF real paciftst has not only avoided
| all war, but Is leading the world into
! the ways OF peace. What Is peace hut
| the assertion OF moral proEresso What
/ Is the assertion of moral progress but
the indestructible civilization of Eu-
rope and America? From the smold-
ering ruins of thousand cities, over
I the graves OF millions Of brave men,
| out OF the blackness of the battle
smoke. arising from the obscurtfies OF
national passions, already the peoples
I of the earth recognize the dim out
lines, growing ever more distinct, OF
+ the composite soul OF America in the
patient and humane wisdom of the
worlds real pacificator. or what avail
all the wealth of our beloved land
II Il had been consumed in the de-
structiveness Of war? What avail the
travail OF human progress for ten
| thousand years had not the school,
master and statesman been pacifica-
tori His achievement Is so vast that
ambitious men are blind to Its reality.
But the plain millions. OF all creeds
and nationalities. recognize in 1t the
/ impsrishable glories of a Christian
/ civilization. 1t Glorffes tho peasant
ana king alike. Tho schoolmaster II
statesman. the statesman IL ffnancier.
tho finanoier Is emanctpator, the
emancipator Is the pacificator of the
world.
Sclf-Government.
'"rhe American experiment OF self
government has stood the test. The
achievements OF the American system
are known of all men and felt through
out the world. The United States ID
the worlds asylum. Here all races
all conditions, all creeds are assimi-
lated, helped. elevated. and men are
made into self-governing men. In
America justice has made its great
est progress because It Is progress In
which all men have a part. That form
OF government which affords the full
est opportunity for happiness and
comfort II destined to be the universal
form. Such is the resistless syllogism
of progress. War cannot stop it's In
evitable march. The opinion OF all
men Is more potential than the opin-
ion df one man. The best opinion OF
the best men. by the force of example
and mutually of interest, becomes
the opinion of all men. American
opinion liz embodied in n man OF peace
American opinion is marching through
1.-THE world.
When the Imperialism Of Europe
cast the iron dice of destiny. America
threw the moral dice OF destiny.
America staked the principles OF her
justice. There they stand in untarn-
lished integrity in the gaze of a stricken
world. The intelligence of men grasp
the meaning of America. Her ex-
ample will readjust the relations OF
men everywhere. The aspirations Of
4 men are Tor freedom. Non and wo-
i men can and should rule themselves.
This day whsn ths1 rule thennssavs1
<