Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-12-28

world find themselves connection with the situation grow
ing ont of the IN Europe
In order that may retain our national bearings in
thus connection let turn for moment to the governmental
maXns OF George Washington which may be said to have
gained all the force and prestige Of American om Those
having particular application to the present confronting
In his farewell address President Washington said Tis
our true Pqcy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any
President Wash ngton in his speech to Congress Jan
70 ad ITO be prepared for war is one Of the most efec-
al means OF preserving peace So said Horace in his Sares
and so said Vegetus the Roman military author in his "ei
Nitars !nstitua well other statesmen poets
ana philosophers TO the present time
The influences which helped shape the character Of the
father MS country and or national development iudi
Gated by this rule Of life from the copybook OF George Wash
ngton when youth "'abom to keep alive in your breast
These three mans have long been constitute the
chief conerones Of national life We invited
to modify all three to marked degree,
We are asked to form alliance to force al the nations
OF the world to keep peace even if we have to fight for it. We
are urged to on other nations in the foreign world in estab
hng permanent alliance in effect both defensive and Of
We urgently asked to go beyond being prepared for
war and to tram every coming man to be soldier.
We asked to put national in the keep
ing of majority OF the nations thai Will constitute that ALI
ance Or league OF and to fight when they fight
need be to shape the OF foreign power
Let us consider this morning the how and why
we are thus urged to abandon our traditional policies
uon as the situation is viewed in Washington It is being
called that President Wilson in the of his speech the
banquet Of the league to enforce last spring indicated
the possibility of change Of American policy
by Secretary Lansing IN his recent peace notes the President
also made it evident that the United States ready 90
extreme lengths iii frheng the of permanent peace
After referring to the vital and direct interest Of the peo
pie and government OF the United States I'm the
TO secure the future peace of the world he President
said Their interest in the to be adopted to
relieve the smaller and weaker peoples Of the world of the
p OF inc WRONG and violence is as quick and ardent as that
OF any other people government They stand ready and
When the WaF IS over with every resource at Their command
%2anng t'lS $tatenent in answer to guest ions Sec
government it might be found that only through American
participation IN LEAGUE OF nations to enforce peace could
wars be prevented in future
Fortunately any revolutionary chance in the direction
nacate would peri9ce rest upon treaties and here again
on TO @ ne permanent DISPOSITION OF or toelgn Jea
the nted States Senate with the President.
The chief magistrate can not force the notion any
permanent ergaGemen With FOREIGN power without the
"y however, in forcing the nation into although the
c9s E aos Vf bs t 6@o9yG@ IN o0"g[ ne
wa IN spite OF Congress- which is supposed to have exclusive
peace without the advice and of the Senate.
Anohcr matter which is seriously discussed in Washing
ton in connection with the international situation is
whether the membership Of the United states in an ntaa
tonaI league to force the world mial involve the
which has come to have almost the focc Of an International
law regards The American CONFERENCE.-THE Monroe doctrine
IN this connections Lansing rightly holds that the
Monroe doctrine which was really formulated by Thomas
jefferson although bears the Of Monroe is nation
al ard not an international policy indeed of the CHIEF ap
pehens of recent American governments in connection
With successive Mexican situations has been hat the Euro
tabs and order in that alleged renubc and defyin the
forests Of foreign residents in that contI into their
hands That step would oyertn the Monroe doctrine in
ne tWlHENnP NAciUl waiting Once OYCTthIOWn.
il without saying the Monroe doctrine would never be
loe5abshed with the Of the chief European pow
eIs, to say nothing of Japan'S attitude
President Wilson doubtless did realize the time
but his surrender of rights in the Panama canal and the
acceptance by the party in Of the theory that Uni
ted States had rights in that peace in war
tt must net also extend to al oher nations was body
blow to the Monroe doctrine. If the Washinptonian maxim
that the to to be prepared
rect then aban1)nme Of exclusive tights in the Panama
canal IN another surrender pcXcusablo
unnecessary and mpa'iohc and deloaho from every point
Of view.
When nation gets TO swinging from long established
mornings there is telling into what QuickS;nd may drift
what rocks it be dashed realized by the
champions Of international league 10 establish peace that
might be fatal TO domination the American continent
and 50 breed future for this nation involving territorial
rivalry in ho world 1t also realized that the American
people whole would hardly tolerate any attempt to aba~
G0n lhe Monroe doctrine.
meet these objections 10 the abandonment Of
tona mANlmS that might involve the Monroe doctrine the
suggestion Is made that conferences between great nations
with view TO the prevention OF future wars nipht adopt an
Gieement that the Monroe doctrine should be regarded
peculiarly am American institution applying only to this
tncn with the United State the protector Of the smaller
nations. This would involve the supplemental idea that the
Great nations OF Europe the protectors of the smaller
,,ilioo Of tl,rfc