The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-16
PRESIDENT is UNFIT FOR THE OFFICE"

other civilized country. For generations
we had been urging on and helping In
,ts development and establishment We
a spent u efforts and our money
to that End.
In legislative resolution and executive
ueciaration and diplomatic correspond
ence and special treaties and interna-
tional conferences and conventions we
had played our part In conjunction with
o'ner civt!i1ed countries In making that
Jaw We had bound ourselves by IL
we had regulated our conduct by IL. and
W. were entitled to have other nations
observe Il.
That law was the protection OF our
peace and security. II was our safe
guard against the necessity OF Maintain-
'ng great ornaments and wasting our
substance In continual readiness for war.
Our interest in having II maintained as
tne law or nations was n substantial,
valuable. permanent interest. jug, az
real as your interest and mine In having
maintained and enforced the laws against
assault and robbery and arson Uhich
protect our personal safety and property.
nrearh Of Contract with 4. =.
Moreover. that law was written into
a solemn and formal convention, signed
anu ratifed by Germany and Belgium
ana france and the United States In
Wnich those other Countries agreed with
vs that the Law should be observed.
When Belgium was invaded h a agree
ment was binding not only morally hui.
strictly and technically. because there
was then no nation a party to the war
which wa not also a party to the con.
vention.
The Invasion Of Belgium was a breach
OF contract with ua for the maintenance
OF a law OF nations which was the pro-
lection OF our peace. and the i~nteres,
winch sustained the contract justified
an objection TO its breach. There WIS
TO question here Of interfering in the
I@rre!s OF Europe. We had a right to
oe neutral n We were neutral as to
the quarrel between Germany and
France. but when as AN incident to the
prosecution Of that quarrel Germany
broke the law which we were entitled
TO nave preserved and which she had
agreed with us to preserve we were en-
titled TO be heard In the assertion Of our
own national right.
win the right TO speak came respon-
sibility and with responsibility came
duty-duty OF government toward al,
the peaceful men and women In Amer.
lea not TO acQuiesce in the destruction
OF the law which protected them. for IL
the world assents 10 this great and sig
nal violation OF the law Of nations. then
the law OF nations no longer exists and
we have no protection save IN subser-
viency or In force.
And with the right To speak ,her. came
to his the greatest Of neutral nations.
the greatest OF free democracies, another
duty 10 the cause of liberty and Justice
for which America stands. duty 10 the
ideals OF Americas nobler nature. duty
to the honor Of her past and the hopes
OF her future for this law was a bull
~ark OF peace and jus:ic" to the world.
II was a barrier - the spread Of war. II
was a safeguard 10 the ~ndeperdenco
and liberty Of all small. weak States.
II marks the rogress OF civiliza-
ton. II the word consents 10 its de-
struction the world turns backward
toward savagery and Americas assent
would be Americas abandonment OF the
mission Of democracy.
M Word Of Dissent or Protest.
We, the American Government, ac.
guessed In Nh" treatment Of Belgium
and the destruction OF the law OF ma
lions. Without one word Of objection
or dissent to the reputation OF law or
-, ."." y. ,'-ats or 'he N'"ia''oh
- ps.s w mu''"",.s " 'ne treatment
u,on The oeon,s -, ,h. I,ni,. $500
an undis,rimina,,,v and ~ .nh.."'n,
neu,r.Jl,y mad IN. p-..,da,, .In'ansh
tho poop" that they must be rcu,ra, IN
all RESPECTS in &c; and word ~and1huught
and sentiment
We We're TO he rot merely neu,ra! a.
IN tho ,rsrr.,s AZ yu,,,s h,, nau,r.,