New-York tribune., 1916-02-16
Ex-SenatOrMakesPle
at Republican State
Convention.
"AMERICANISM
AND DEFENCE"
Hits Mexican Policy
Opens Presidential
Campaign.

With a stirring appeal for re-
awakening of American patriotism
and striking denunciation Of Pres
dent Wilson's policy Of inactica
toward the German invasion of Be
gium, ex-senator Root, before =
crowd OF militant Republicans in
Carnegie Hall, last night opened II
campaign for the election Of a Re.
publican President next fall.
Mr.. Roots speech was in his best
vein. Bit by bit he dissected the acts
OF the President and the members
OF his Administration. He discussed
the Presidents handling OF the Mex
lean situation. and as he denounced
the murder of American citizens. the
cutraging OF women and the she'd
ding Of the blood of American so
diers at Vera Cruz, all of which TO-
lowed the Wilson policy of gettinF
r.d OF Huerta. there was vociferous
applause.
1t was his forceful denunciation o.
President Wilson's attitude towsr
Belgium that aroused the crowd t.
the highest pitch OF emotion. MA>'
stood up and cheered and shouted as
he pictured in the plainest Of terms
the manner in which President VIII
son and his Administration have CON
doned the invasion Of Belgium.
R-buke 10 the President
II was passionate rebuke to the
President. And it also was a rebuke
to Germany. for. although his words
were directed primarily at the Ad-
ministration at Washington, no read
ing between the lines was needed to
feel the scorn and horror which rhe
German atrocities in the little king
dom stirred in him.
There was no mistaking Senator
Roots emotion when he said:
III public opinion Of the wo-'i
was TO remain silent on that-the
failure 70 protest against the VIOLA
ton of the neutrality Of Belgium
then all talk about peace and justice
and international law and the rian,s
Of man, the progress Of humanity
and the spread Of liberty is all idle
patter-mere weak sentimentality.
Then opinion is powerless and bru,e
force rules the world and will rule
the world. If no difference is rec
ognized between right and wrong.
then there are no moral standards
The applause continued long when
ir an earnest burst Of speech on the
Presidents handling Of the relations
of this country with Germany he
declared that no man should draw
a pistol which he dare not shoot.
THE country that shakes its ist
first and its finger afterward falls
into contempt" he said.
There vas one significant thing sboat
Mr.. Roots speech that attracted much
attention, and that vas his negles. 20
mention the name of ex-Prssident
Roosevelt
Part OF Speech Not Delivered
This ex-senator had intended 20 do so.
because it vss in the copy Of his
speech which was distributed before
the convention met. Mr.. Root probably
is the only one who can tell Why the
reference was deleted. although Will
lam Barnes seemed 10 hesye a sigh Of
relief that was not concealed when
that part OF Mr. Roots speech had beer
delivered.
In closing his address Mr.. Root laid
down the model for the platform to be
adopted nj the Chicago convention. IL
was "Americanism and Preparedness.
Hs said the American people can de-
pend upon the Republican party for full
and adequate preparation for national
defence. A. for Americanism. this 10
Mr.. Roots definition o. wha, the party
stands for. in that respect:
"I, stands for an Awakening OF
American patriotism. n is not content
that while the people OF other lands
are rendering the last full measure OF
devotion in sacrifice and suffering and
dying for their countries Anerics shall
remain alone dull to the call Of eoun-
try and satisfied IN the comforts and
pleasures OF prosperity