The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-09

his cabinet. determined upon policy of
strict neutrality, and, on April 70, 1893,
issued his famous neutrality proclama-
ton. We had just emerged from the
colonial condition, and for 100 years our
peace had been involved in the peace of
Europe. War in Europe had hitherto
always meant war for the American
colonies.
"The policy then.laid down and which
he reiterated in his farewell address has
been the policy of the United States ever
since"
After explaining how President Wash
ington, when his patience was exhausted
by the actions of Genet, Minister of the
French Republic, demanded Genet's re-
call, Senator Lodge referred to the ques-
ton of exporting munitions as affecting
neutral rights and sales to belligerents.
On May 18th, 1898, shortly after Wash
ington's proclamation of neutrality, Mr..
Jefferson, then secretary of State, wrote
to the British minister as follows:
Our citizens have always been free to
make, vend and export arms. 1t is the
constant occupation and livelihood of
some of them. To suppress their call
ing, the only means perhaps of their
existence because a war exists in a
foreign and distant countries, in which
we have no concern, would scarcely
be expected. 1t would be hard in prin-
ciple and impossible in practice. ''The
law of the nations, therefore. respecting
the rights of those at peace, does not re-
quire from them such an internal dis
arrangement of their occupations. 1t is
satisfied with the external penalty pro.
nounced in the Presidents proclamatio
that of confscation of such portion of
these arms as shall fall into the hands of
any belligerent powers on the wayto the
port of their enemies. To this penalty
our citizens are warned that they will te
abandoned, and that even private con-
traventions may work no Inequality
between the parties at war, the benefit
of them will be left equally free and open
to all.
This policy of Washington and Jeffer-
son, of which Senator Lodge says, moth
ing could be clearer, sets forth the I'M
doubted rights of citizens or subjects of
neutral power to sell arms and other
munitions of war at their own risk to
belligerents, and the policy has been
strictly adhered to from that day to this.
Senator Lodge also called attention to
the ideas of Washington on military
preparedness when he said that:
"a free people ought not only to be
armed, but disciplined; to which a uni.
form and well-digested plan is requisite;
and their safety and interest require
that they should promote such manu-
factories as tend to render them indie
pendent of others for essentials, partic-
ularly military supplies.
Again December 3, 1893 he said to
Congress:
IF we desire to avoid insult, we must
be able to repel it: if we desire to secure
peace, one of the most powerful instru-
ments OF our rising prosperity, it must
be known that we are at all times ready
for war"
He further clearly defined the issue,
saying:
Between the conception of life which
puts money and personal, physical safety
first, and the conception of life held by
Washington and Lincoln and those whom
they led, which put freedom. honor and
self-respct first, the choice must be
made. The greatness of people is to be
found, not in amount of money which can
be accumulated, or in the ease and soft
ness that can be wrapped about life, but
In what people stand for in morals and
in character.
The men of Washington's day who
were for peace at any price, frankly be-
cause they were afraid and cared more
for money than aught else, are forgotten,
but the name of Washington is enshrined
and reverenced in the memory of all ma
lions. Let US not depart from his teach
lngs or from his high conception of a
mans duty and the conduct of life. Let
us apply that conception now and put it
into action without fear or favor
Bryan is behind the peace-at-any-price
contingent in Congress and his object is
to defeat the nomination of Wilson and
secure 1t for himself, or, if that is not
possible, for some one of his selection.
The vote of 68 to ID by which the Senate
on March Sd tabled Senator Cores reso-
luton to warn Americans off armed
belli gerent ships indicates that Bryan
will fail in his purpose.