New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-30

volt. speaking this evening before the
u;nois Bar Association on "lnterna-
,ional Duty and American Ideals ssld'
A wear and three-quarters nave
nossed since the opening OF the great
usr Al the outset our people were
stunned by the vastness and terror Oh
u.o cr;sis We had been assured by
many complacent persons that the Gay
~ Great wars had ended, that the reign
of violence was over, that the ehilgn'.
orod rublic opinion Of the world would
,,ovent the oppression OF weak nations
To he sure. there was ample PROOF 'h"'
,o,o ~ these assurances were true
and far-sceing men did not beileVe
.hor Put there was good excuse TOT
tho mass Of the people being mlsieu'
Now however. there is none war mas
bcen waged on a more colossal scare
-. ,,,cr before in the worlds history;
"a cynical indifference 10 interna-
,ional morality and Willingness 70
..urle on inoffensive. peace-loving
noonles who are also helpless or 1'",u
have been shown on a greater so"i0
han since the close of the Napoleoh''
80, century ago. Alone OF the
Great movers. we have not been drawn
40 this struggle. A twofold duty
was imposed upon US by the fact OF our
Drosneritv and by the fact Of our mo-
mentarv immunity from danger
This duty was, first, 20 make our
,oice felt for the weak who had oeeh
wronced By the strong and for inter-
ra,ional humanity and honor and for
reace on terms Of justice for all con
c.rned: and, second, Immediately and
., ,boroughgoing fashion 10 prepare
ourselves so that there might not be-
fall us on an even greater scale such
disaster as befell Belgium.
Failed in Both Duties.
We have failed in both duties. lncred-
lille 10 relate, we are not In any SUD
stantial respect stronger at this mo-
mont in soldiers or rifles. in sesmen or
shins. because Of any governmental &C
tom taken in consequence of this war;
and moreover. we have seen every de-
vice and provision designed by humani-
tarisns to protect international right
against international wrongdoing torn
INTO shreds and have not so much as
ventured 10 speak effectively one wofd
of protest The result is that every ma
ton in the world now realizes our "eah,
ness and that no nation IN the wor!u
believes in either our dlsinterestednes
or our manliness. The effort TO placa-e
outside nations by beng neutral De
tween right and wrong, and 10 gam
good will along professional pacihst
lines by remaining helpless for self-de-
fencc. has resulted, after two fatuous
Years. m so shaping affairs that the ma
lions either already feel. or are rapidly
growing TO feel. for US not only dislike
but contempt. - :.
This is not pleasant truth; but IL
is the truth: and as a people we Will 90
well 10 remember Emersons saying
that I'M the long run the most unpleas-
an, .ruth is a safer travelling compan-
ION than the pleasantest falsehood. Our
duty is TO face the facts and then 10
take the thorough gong action neceS-
sary IN order 70 meet the sltua'iO" '""'
these facts disclose.
Our prime duty. infinitely our most
important duty. IS the duty OF pre-
paredness Unless we prepare IN ad-
vance we cannot when the crisis comes
he true 20 ourselves II We cannot De
tine "a ourselves II is absolutely GER
tain that we shall be false to every one
else. II we are not able "a safeguard
We shall make ourselves an object OF
scorn and derision II we try 20 stand
nm for the rights OF others We have
Lecn sinking into the position of the
China OF the Occident; and we VIII do
we'll 10 remember that China -paclhst
China has not only been helpless 70
Keen its own territory from spoliation
and its own people from subJugation
hut has also been helpless TO exert
even the most minute degree Of infu-
once on behalf Of right dealing among
other nations.
Persons Who Cannot BE Influenced.
There are persons IN this country
who openly advocate our taking the po-
sition that China holds. the position
from which the best and wisest China
men are now painfully trying 10 raise
1NflI iLUNs -NbiLtut NHhN 1 "a" 0"t
will influence the men and women who
take this view. The holding Of such a
view IS entirely incompatible with the
right TO exercise the privileges Of self
government IN a democracy. for self
government cannot permanently exist
among people incapable OF self-de-
fence.
But / believe that the great major
It's o. my fellow countrymen. when they
finally take the trouble 20 think on the
problem az all. will refuse 10 consent
20 or acquiesco IN the Chinafcstion Of
this country. ! believe that they Will
refuse 20 follow those who would make
right helpless before might. who would
put pigtail on Uncle Sam and turn
the Goddess Of Liberty into pa
cihcist female huckster. clutehing a
bag Of dollars which she has not the
courage 10 guard against aggression.
u rs 20 these men and women that /
peak J speak 70 the mass OF my fell
low countrymcn. speak 20 all men
and women who are loyal 20 the princi-
rleg Of those who IN the Revolutionary
War made Us a nation. and VINO have
~ their souls the high qualities pos
cesed By the men who IN the iron
f4gs Of the Civil War followed the ban
ners o. Grant and Of Lee. and Of the
moth ~ and wives Of these men. Ny
sppcal may not be needed; IL so, then
either our people will pay heed IN time
20 the appeal Of zomc other man, able
90 speak moro strongly and more CON
vincingly, or else they will when 70 -
100 late learn the lesson from some ter