The Sentinel=record., 1917-02-03

Washington, Feb 9-Former Pres ident Taft prefaced period speech here tonight on the League to enforce Peace with a reference to the new German crisis, declaring that if Inc United States were drawn into war, Germany would force 1t by her de- fiance Of plain princiDies r' j1st'ce and humanity which should obtain be- tween civilized nations
 The responsibility which now rests on the president and congress is very heayy.' said Mir Taft. "They should know and do that the American peo- pie will back them to the end. May God give them good deliverance
 The former president was speakins before the chamber of commerce of the United States. ansewring partiGu- larly criticisms of Theodore Roosevelt and William J. Bryan, Senator Borah and others of the League 10 Enfore Peace idea
 "I have prepared this address" he said, before Germany startled ths country and all neutrals by her last note. The actual dangers with which 10 make what l have been discussmg 10 make what l have ben discusing theoretical. tame, and inappropriate The truth is however that this great crisis only emphasizes the importance of the league in the future history of this country.
 "Of all things, We would avoid war. We are prepared for it. Its awful con sequence We know from Europe's sui fering our prayer is for some es. cape from it in this critical hour, if consistent wth our national honor. But we must face the facts.
 In her campaign against her enc mics Germany proposes ruthlessly to wage war upon neutrals in fragrant violation of theh rights She began with Belgium She now includes them all Our national conscience is void oi offense against her Her cruel and indefensible drowning without warn ing of more tha ma hundred innocent Amer jeans on the Lusitania we con "oned in view of her pledge against a repetition That pledge is now with drawn and she ayows her purpose to resume her shocking course.
 "lf war is to come between ID, she will be unproyoked aggresSor. We would avoid being drawn into the Eu- ropean vortex by every honorable con cession If she forces us into it, she will do so by her defence of plain principles of justice and humanity which should obtain between civilized nations
 Tn spite of her great strength and marvellous efficiency Germany's mani fest weakness has been in failure to understand other peoples and t0 ap- preoiate the moral forces working in them She may not know the spirit of the good natured tolerant 'erha'ing giant she now challenges. She may overestimate. as she has done before in the case of other nations. the influence of sordid motives, of the ln- ertia of comlor, and of di5sentient elements among us. which she may eN- pect to paralyze our action She may stir an active patriotism in our peo- ple which she does not suspect. She may shock us into a real preparation of war and the sacrifice it involves as nothing else might.
 she may push us at once into league to enforce a iusts peace She may force us into an organization Of our potential military strength on he one hand. and into q moral leadership in the maintenance of international justice on the other. Thencetorth our isolation from the wars and welfare Of the rest of the world would be at an end. When peace would come the eyes of our people, in spite Of warn ings of statesmen who are looking backward. would be opened noi only to the wsdom hut 10 the necessity ot our leading the nations into a per manent worlds league to enforce peace