The Washington times., 1916-12-16
AMERICA AND BELGIUM

Elihu Root, who repeatedly has
given eloquent voice to the senti-
ments Of the vast majority of Amer
lean people concerning the barbar-
ties of the war in Europe and its
violations Of the laws of both men
and nations, addressed last night u
great meeting in New York to form
ulate the protest against Germany's
enslavepent of the Belgian people.
81 should not respect myself If |
remain SILENT he said, "and |
hope, trust, l pray that my coun-
try will not remain silent" Then,
continuing:
Explain II as you may. excuse II .
rs yon may, disguise u NJ you may
the people OF Belgium by tho tens
and hundreds OF thousands aro
being carried away. into slaycry-.a
any nation that claimed to be civil
lized In modern history,
Poor Belgium. peaceful, industri-
Gus. God-fearing, law-abidlng Bel
GUM She had no quarrel with any
one, She sought no nations terri
tory. She coveted no neighbours
goods. She threatened no ones Sc
curity. but she stood In the way OF
mighty nations purpose.
II the civilized world Of tho TWEEN
tleth century Is willing to stand
silent and sec these things done. In
cumulative progression, In violation
OF the laws OF humanity and OF ma
lions, then the civilization OF the
twentieth century In worse than tho
savagcry OF the Romans.
Mr.. Root does not. indulge ex-
cesses by reason of the oratorical
temperament and its temptations to
extreme language. He is not emo
tional. He Is calm, deliberate, dis
passionate. He says that IL the
twentieth century world stands
silent while the Belgian people are
dragged away into slavery, it's civil
lization "is worse than the savagery
Of the Romans" He meant just that,
and he is right. There is power
enough in this world, there is n
force of public sentiment strong
enough, to make Germany undey
stand. II, while the world has been
building up the substance and the
institutions Of civilization, il has
lost the spirit and the inspiration,
then indeed has il refrigerated from
the times Of old Rome. Civilization
is Of the spirit, the heart, the soul;
not Of constructions, devices, in
ventions, scientific achievement. II
the spirit is dead, the heart cold,
the soul unresponsive, our civiliza-
tion has truly been submerged un-
der the wave Of terror inspired BY
the frightfulness OF this unprece-
denied savagery in war.
President Wilson needs and is en-
titled TO have his hands held up; to
have more men Of the standing Of
Mr.. Root make such declarations
ms the former chief of state made
when he continued further:
We thank heaven our President
has assumed the leadership OF the
free opinion ~ American democracy
and has spoken for II TO Gurmany.
All honor to him for II and IL II for
us Ia say that We VIII stand BY ana
support him. approve him, In main
,aIning the application Of the free
principles 90 America In insisting
upon respect and obedience Co the
law which projects all weak and
pcaceahle nations. and Ia protesting
with all the power OF the i0o.Oo0.s0
of America, against the outrage upon
humanity which has been per-
formed.
No matter who wins this war,
civilization will have lost II the war
shall establish anew the barbaric
methods of a world that had not yet
seen the light of Christianity lifted
to guide mems feet toward higher
and better things.