Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-03

sea do: what those in charge OF sub
marines do: what those who are con-
Quoting blockades do: upon the 1udE-
ment of a score OF men. big and LITTLE.
hang the vital issues OF peace or war
for the United States
This month should not go by without
something decisive done by the peo-
pie OF the United States, by way or
preparation OF the arms OF self ytndi-
within me. my fellow citizens, when L
think of the Importance of this matter
and of all 1t involves.
II am sorry that there should he any,
crying out for war. There are men. but
they are irresponsible men. who do a great
deal Of talking. and they are appealing
to some OF the most fundamental and
dangerous passions OF the human heart
they are appealing. indeed, to one OF the
handsomest passions of the human heart
II i see somebody suffering. suffering
cruelty, suffering unjustly. and believe
that by the aid of force on my part L
can stop the suffering, it is not a low but
an exalted passion which leads me to
WISH 10 go in and help. And there are
men IN this country. men by the thousa nd,
VINO believe that We ought to intervene
TO stop the intolerable suffering which IL
inNoived In some of the processes Of this
terrible war. Yet. for my part, I am so
convinced that we can help better by
keeping out of the war by giving our
nhanciai resources to the injured world.
.! giving our cotton and our wooden stuffs
10 ciothe the world: am SO convinced
that the processes of peace are the help
fui and healing and redeeming forces that
DO not see how any man can think that
~ auuins 70 the number OF guns you can
decrease the suffering or the tragedy of
the world.
There is tragedy abroad in the W orld.
my ny leno~ ci.iLens. We. in these peace
full areas of this blessed country, 20
about our daily tasks unmolested and
unafraid. 1t seems very strange that
this tragedy should be enacted while
we lie so still and peaceful I'm our
own abodes. Yet the world has never
before in the history of mankind seen
SO many terrible features. seen the
sweep of destruction compa IA BILE to
that which is now devastating the
nelds OF Europe. We think our own
civil war one of the bloodiest wars in
history, but all the sufferings of all the
Tour years OF that war are as dust in
the balance as compared to the losses
ana sunerings and sacrifices which are
the seas today. We are witnessing
taclysm and God only knows what
the Issues will be.
Part Assigned to America.
See. therefore. the noble part that
is assigned to America - to stand
steady. to stand cool. to keep alive all
the wholesome processes of peace; aud
we who are trustees to repair the
world when the damage is done. must
take counsel with one another how We
shall see to il that we shall not be
prevented from the efficacious perform
ance OF that task. l would not condo
scend to appeal to your passions.
would be ashamed of myself IL tried
to do anything but quiet your jude
ments.
Il do not wish you to be any more
excited than j am. | am too solemn
to be excited would not draw a pas
sionate breath for fear 1 might disturb
the nice equipoise of the peace of this
part of the world. But. ladies and gen.
tlemen, one cannot help seeing visions:
one cannot help realizing what 1t means
to stand for the honor of great nation
like this. You little realize the feel
ing that 1t gives me when l see those
little flags lifted in the air and know
that every one OF them is symbol OF
the solemn duty laid upon those select.
the world And I have come In all
solemnity. my fellow citizens. to ask
you to sustain the judgment of those
who represent you in applying the
means. the necessary means. the only
means which Will make II certain that
those great interests may be conserved
and cared for.
ct am going away from here reas-
sured beyond even. the hope that ] en-
tertained when / came here: and yet
want to beg of you that you do not let
the Impressions of this hour die with
the hour. Let every man and woman IN
this place go out of here with the feel
ing that he has consecrated influence
from this moment until the thing Is
accomplished to making sure the Sc
curity and the adequacy of the nation.
Because if America suffers all the
world loses its equipoise.
Madness has entered into everything.
and that zone of the flag which we have
thrown to the breeze. upon SO many oc-
casions as the reckoning finger of hope
to those who believe in the rights OF
mankind. will itself be stained with
the blood of battle. and staggering here
and there among its foes will lead men
to wonder where the star of America
has gone and why America has allowed
herself to be embroiled when she might
have carried that standard sercnely
forward to the redemption Of the af-
fairs of mankind. / beg of you to
stand by your government with your
minds as well as your hearts. and let
us redeem America by applying our
judgments to the wholesome process of
national defense.
Il am going to ask il the men in the
band yonder will not allow me to con-
clude my address by allowing me to
join with you in singing America