Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-16

in public speech in Philadelpnla III
fourth day after the sinking of the Lus
.ania that "a man may be too proud t
light Whatever the Austrian Ambassa
dor was in fact told by the secre
ne reported was supported by thu
events which followed. Whatever tn
President did mean, his declaration
made in public at that solemn time
mid the horror and mourning of al
our people over the murder of thei
brethren, was accepted the world owe
Is presenting the attitude Of tn
American government towards tn
protection Of the life and liberty o
American citizens in the exercise o
heir just rights> and throughout tn
world the phrase too proud to fight
became by word of derision AM
contempt for the Government Of tn
United States.
Later, in another theatre Of
wharf.-the Mediterraneen-Austria,
and perhaps Turkey, also. resumed\
the practice. The Ancona and
then tho Persia were destroyed,
and more Americans were killed.
Why should they not resume the
practice? They had learned to
believe that, no matter how
shocked the American Govern
nent might be, its resolution
would expend itself in words.
They had learned to believe that
it was safe to kill Americans,--
and the world believed with Thorn.
Measured and restrained express
sion, backed to the full by serious
purpose, is strong and respected.
Extreme and beIIiserent express
sion, unsupported by resolution, is
weak and without effect. No man
should draw a pistol who dares not
shoot. The government that
shakes its fist first and its finger
afterwards falls into contempt.
Our diplomacy has lost its author
ity and influence because we have
been brave in words and irresolute
in action. Men may say that the
words Of our diplomatic notes were
justified; men. may say that our
inaction was justified; but no
man can say that both our words
and our inaction were wise and
creditable.
Il have said that this SoVernmen
ost the moral forces of the world b.
not truly interpreting the spirit OF tn
American democracy.
The American democracy stands TO
more than beef and cotto
and grain and manufactures; STAND
Tor something that cannot be meas
lred by rates of exchange, and doe
NOT rise or fall with the balance O
trade.
THE LAW BROKEN
The invasion of Belgium was breac
of contract with us for the maintenance
of a law of nations which was the pre-
lection of our peace, and the intere:
which sustained the contract justified
objection to it's breach. There was n
question here of interfering in the quar-
rels' Of Europe. We had right to |
neutral and we were neutral as to tt
quarrel between Germany and Franc
but when as an incident to the prosec,
ton of that quarrel Germany broke TT
law which we were entitled to have PR
served. and which she had agreed wit
us to preserve. VIC were entitled to |
heard in the assertion of our own ns
tional right.
RIGHT BECOMES DUTY
with the right to speak came r.
and with responsibility cam
luty-duty of government towards all tn
peaceful men and women in America III
to acquiesce in the destruction of the la
which protected them, for if the worl
assents to this great and signal violatio
of the nav Of nations. then the law
nations no longer exists and we have II
protection save in subserviency or
force. And with the right to speak thel
came to this. the greatest of neutral III
tons. the greatest of free democracie
another duty to the cause of liberty an
Justice for which America stands: dut
to the ideals of Americas nobler nature
duty to the honor of her past and til
hopes of her future: for this law was
bulwark of Teace and justice to til
world: it was barrier to the spread {
war; it was a safeguard to the indepe1
dence and liberty of all small, wea
states 1t marks the progress of civil
ization. If the world consents to its d.
struction the world turns backwards t.
wards savagery, and Americas asser
would be Americas abandonment of tt
mission Of democracy.
AMERICA AcQUiEScEs
Yet the American government acqu
esced in the treatment of Belgium an
the destruction of the law. Of nation
one word of objection or disse,
to the reputation of law. or the breac
of our treaty or the violation of ju
tice and humanity in the trea
ment of Belgium, our government en-
joined upon the people of the Unite
States an undiscriminating and all
neutrality, and the Presi
dent admonished the people that the
must be neutral in all respects in az
and word and thought and sentiment
We were to be not merely neutral a
to the quarrels Of Europe. but neutra
as to the treatment of Belgium; neu
trail between right and wrong; neutra
between justice and injustice; neutrs
between humanity and cruelty; neu
lral between liberty and oppression
Our. government did more than &C
guiesce, for in the first Lusitania not'
with the unspeakable horrors Of tn
conquest Of Belgium still fresh in on
minds. ON the very day after the re