New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-31
COLONEL SC0FFS
AT WILSON NOTES
kiss Hand of Murderer"
He Says, Raking Diplom-
acy Used with Germany.

More savsgely Rooscvel,ian than
ever. Theodore Roosevelt attacked the
international policies o. the Wilson ad-
ministrstion before an enthusiastic
audience that packed the Academy Of
Music. Brooklyn. Yesterday afternoon.
His theme was Promise and Perform
ance in International Duty
This was his latest summary Of the
negotiations with Germany over the
Lusitania:
eve are asked to kiss the bloody
hands % the murderers Of our women
and children and 20 serve as the tool
Of these men against those nations
which have behaved more valiantly and
righteously than we have"
He did not hesitate to 90 one step
further in his denunciation of the
officials who are in charge of our
diplomacy. He deliberately accused
the administration Of cowardice.
unfortunately, it is evident that
many Of our public men are afraid Of
Germany" he cried, afraid of the pro-
fessional German-American vote, and
are willing to sacrifice the honor 81
this country TO their fears
Cowardice, Shouts Colonel.
When, in the course Of his two-hour
address, Colonel Roosevelt came TO the
subject Of Mexico. his scornful wrath
knew no bounds. Since his speech was
written new documentary evidence had
reached him in a report of the post
mortem examination Of the twenty
Americans who were murdered two
weeks ago. The Colonel brought the
report with him: he insisted upon
reading all but the most horrible de-
tails 10 his audience. and then, with
the document crumpled in his fists. he
shouted
For FIVE years we have pursued a
policy os both cowardice and infsmy in
the face Of our duty toward Mexico.
People speak as though wanted war
Here he had to pause while the com
bination of laughter and applause
swept through the great hall.
There is not . man in this whole
country who wants war less than /
want it," he said with tremendous
earnestness. T1l tell you why. !. is
because have four sons, and all four
of them would have TO 60. also
should 90. Do you think that i and
the mother of those boys would like
to see them go? No. we would hate
TO see our boys go. But | would
rather see them dead and IN thelr
graves than that they should finch
in the face of duty
Two minutes of continuous applause
greeted this confession.
When the speech was over Colonel
Roosevelt was followed By cheering
crowds, who jostled him and fairly
overwhelmed him as he made his way
through the hall to his automobile. II
was a typical Roosevelt demonstration
of the usual vigorous enthusiasm.
That ne was a German American
without the hyphen was one of the
statements that startled the 5000 per
sons in the hall.
"I believe the great mass Of Ameri-
cans of German descent are straight
out Americans and nothing else, just
as good Americans as citizens of any
other descent in this country" nc de
clared. ~ have right TO say this, for
am one of them"
Professional Pacifsts Accused.
The professional pacifsts who argue
against the United States preparing
for sclf-defence take the view that this
country's moral character is on par
with that of the individual who buns
down his house 10 collect the insur-
ance, he declared.
"I differ from them in their v.eS,"
ne added. Il believe that 90 out Of
every 100 patriotic Americans believe
in preparedness, and ! believe they are
for preparedness, not with the idea OF
wsgIng war. but with the idea OF pre-
venting war" He added:
"In private life no human being
thinks il 20 the credit of any man that
ne makes a promise unless the promise
;s kent But when we deal with ma
tions instead Of individuals large
number OF reasonably well disposed
people loudly take the view that the
promise is itself meritorious and that
the keeping Of II is something wholly
ire levant. 4 treaty is merely prom
isc. If II is evident when made that
/ II cannot be or ought not to be kept,
then those making the treaty are self
evidently either wicked or foolish. lf
il can be kept, but nevertheless is not
Continued on page ?. column