Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-08
ONE HOUR AND 50
MINUTES APPLAUSE
GREETST.R.' SNAME
continued from page one,

continued from page one.)
piness?' 1t is only the great common
heritage of America that the common
people will find worthy OF defense With
what slogan shall the hyphenates rally
cosmopolitan people? Shall 1t be,
Arm to defend the traditions Of my
fathers native land?" 1t Is only the
traditions OF America, tho melting pot
of a hundred nations, that the chill
dren Of hundred nations viii find
worthy Of defense.
In our domestic problems we sought to
eaualize the burdens and benefits Of
government. We sought to increase the
| benefits Of government for the wage
Garner the small business man and the
| farmer, those whose productive activi-
Ties carry the greater part Of the ma
| tons burdensto shift some Of this
| burden to the shoulders Of those who
derive the greater benefits Of the gov
eminent. the protection and security OF
large properties. To-day we must pro-
vide adequately for the defense OF our
nation against foreign aggression. This
| calls for money and men, and IL we
would act as a great republican, govern
| h'SHt VI an lHe peOple-We must strive
| to equalize the burdens and benefit,
of this preparedness. Let us In every
way seek to avoid repeating that IRONY
of history-whereby the men with little
of property, with little OF freedom and
Of comfort to preserve against foreign
foe have been called so often in tho
name Of patriotism t, defend the sacred
lives and property Of the few who there.
] n TOR tn.
Of the blessings of liberty. for which the
! many have fought and suffered and
! died
| The nation waits for that leadership
| to come out of the Chicago conventions
| which will restore to ourselves and to
the people of other nations that respect
for the American government which 10
essential to the well-being Of a nation.
| 1t is no time for a divided opposition
1t is no time for one party to offer to
the other partisan choice 1t is a
time when wise leaders will listen to the
voices of the nation to choose their
nominee. And those voices now repeat
one name. If there was ever call Of
the people it is sounding now.
We meet in a great hour of the life
Of this nation and in the history Of the
I
is emerging in every nation OF the
earth and new internationaiism IA be-
ing born from the blood and suffering
| of the greatest war Of all the ages
Democratic government and free insti-
| tutions being brought to final
test and the genius OF western civiliza-
ton is being tried as with fire. The
next four years will determine the place
of America in the social enterprise and
world adventure Of our generation-a
generation that will condition a thou
sand years Of human history.
When this war is ended there Will
be three great nations unspent. with
power to speak and serve In the advance
Of social order throughout the world.
The nations of western Europe that
| have led the advance OF civilization for
centuries are bleeding to death. II the
war We're to cease Tomorrow these ma
tons would have suffered such un-
paralleled loss of blood and treasure as
to preclude them from this leadership
during the coming generation. No In.
IDENTITIES. however great no territorial
gains. however large, can repay for the
loss Of millions OF brave vir1le, adj
venturous youth. What great nations
shall remain unspent when this war II
ended?
Russia. Her one hundred and sixty
millions of people her vast natural re-
sources of fertile lands. minerals and
forests will not be exhausted in this
war. On the contrary. she is ex-
periencing a great awakening and her
vast hosts with culture. striated with
superstition in religion and autocracy In
government. will break like waters long
restrained into the current Of the worlds
life. Russia will speak.
Japan. Fifty-five millions of organic
ed. efficient people. with an oriental
culture now dominated by the ideal OF
Caesar, dreaming OF mastery in the
orient and ultimate world dominion
Japan will speak.
And finally America. America, with
her great spiritual heritage, her demo-
cratic SOUL her free institutions. her
ideals of service and peaceful progress
through education. industry and COM
merce, freest, richest and most resource
full nation of the modern world.-Amer-
lea should speak.
Shall 1t be said a generation hence
, when this great hour of opportunity has
passed forever from the world. that
America met this challenge faltered and
was dumb Shall 1t be written that we
were so enfeebled In physical fiber and
=, moral sense by the waste and betrayal
OF personal indulgence, economic an
archy and political corruption. that We
dared not face the issue. that we be-
, trayed the heroism Of our fathers ana
, the promise OF democracy, losing the
leadership of the world? This is thu
hour of our trial, the test Of our WORTH
ness to be a nation the test OF the SOIL
OF our republic. Let II be here written
down that the free citizenship Of the
: nation of Washington and Lincoln meets
this hour of national trial with a new
? conservation and that the faithful heart
ed men and women OF America units
, under the leadership Of the foremost
statesman OF the modern world to wins
dictate the ideals of democracy--freedon1
. for the individual, Justice for the CONS
: munty, security for the nation and
= peace for all the world.