The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-10-07
LINES WORTH REMEMBERING.
Nurture your minds with great thoughts
BEACONSFlELD.
THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.

You'll have 10 hand it to the president lie knows
1 his business lie also knows the spirit and temper
Of the American people His Omaha speech proves this
beyond peradtcnture.
America is as ready to fight as any nation he de-
clarcd in this address, "hut the cause must be Just
when YOU arc asked, are not YOU willing 20 fight
reply YES but YOU are waiting for something worth fight
ing for" he went on. You are not looking about for petty
quarrels, but you arc looking about for that sort of a
quarrel within whose iniricaccspare written all OF the
texts Of the rights Of man; YOU arc looking for some
cause which will elevate your spirit, not depreSs il some
cause in which II seems a glory to shed human blood IT
il he necessary, so that all the common compacts Of lib
ertv may he sealed with the blood OF frcemen'
These are inspiritng words. They compass the pur
pose and aspiration Of every true American We want
no war save in a noble cause Our heart rebel, at the
thought OF a fight for the sake OF fighting
But let some power attack Us. let some foreign govern
mcnt invade cur rights, let some potentate undertake to
destroy our Liberties, and sc will fight, after the fashion
they are fighting in Europe as we told Germany in the
lusitania negotiations American history has proven this
time and again.
Within the past three wears We have had three op-
portunitcS for going to war. First, we could have gone
TO war with Mexico, because a comparative handful Of
American citizens have been assasSinated down there.
after being warned to get out, and American property
destroyed But war would not have restored life to the
dead Americans nor rchabilitated the property, and We
shall vet settle with that nation for its misdeeds. And
II We had gone TO war with Mexico We would have been
compelled TO r%cpudiate every principle upon which our
republic /, founded The disorder in Mexico is due to
the efforts OF a ,~ubjugated people seeking to throw off
tyranny Shall we go in and ~subJugatc them further
Clearly, that would he an ignoble thing to do. especially
on the part Of a people who had to rebel in order to OBJ
tain their liberty. We must deal patiently and con
s,deratcy with Mexico. Her people are striking blindly in
the dark. Our duty is to help them. not fight them.
Next, We could have gone to war with Germany over
diplomatic relations and Joined the allies in their war
upon her. But again war would not have restored these
lives, and our sole object was 10 prevail upon her to dis.
continue her submarine warfare. We accomplished that
precise object through diplomatic negotiations
Likewise, We could have gone 10 war with England
because She has Interrupted our mails and ignored neutral
rights az sea. But war would not have stopped these in.
t%crrup'ion' nor FASTENED the day when a common under.
standing existed as to neutral lights Diplomacy can &C.
complish more than war IN matters affecting propcr,,
rights, and with Is great deal les, loss OF life and treasure
When President Wilson seemed "timid" and "yacillat
ing toward either Mexico OF Germany. as y K assert,
and Hughes rolcra'o' It was due to h, steadfast purpose
to keep us out OF war save in a holy cause. II is needles.
TO say that he has spared rs. for which N percent of on
people rejoice and all are better off And his Omaha
speech discloscs Just where he stand, On this question o
peace or war and the sole basis upon which he will enter
the Latter