Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-02
Ex-senator johnson Thrills
Large Audience on Patriotism

Lazy AuuICueO VI
/ Before an audience that took every
seat and filled all the available stand
! ng room in the City Opera house, ex-
United States Senator Charles F. john
son of this city delivered what was
probably the greatest speech ever lis
tened to in this city, when he spoke
Sunday afternoon under the auspices
OF Havelock Lodge, Knights of Pyth-
las, on the subject, Americas Present
Duty" Mr.. Johnson spoke as one with
authority and his words were listened
to with the closest interest, frequent
~ interrupted with bursts of cheering.
The meeting was in every way one OF
the greatest that has ever held in the
city and everyone who attended could
not have failed to have been deeply
affected by the patriotism displayed
and the words of the speaker.
The meeting was called to order at
about $50 by Grand Keeper of Rec
lords and Seal Edgar j. Brown, there
being present on the stage with him,
Mr. johnson, Mayor Ora A. Meader,
ministers of the city and the heads
of a number of the other fraternal or
ders of the city. Following a selection
by the Waterville Military Band, the
ceremony of the presentation of the
flag was carried out by a detachment
of Bayard Co, Uniform Rank Knights
of Pythias, and this was followed by
the singing of the Star Spangled Ban
ner by all present. Prayer was offered
by Rev. Charles F. Robinson of the
Temple street Congregational church.
A vocal solo by Guy |. Johnson fol-
bwed and then came a selection by
the band
| Mr. Brown in introducing the speak
Ter of the afternoon took occasion to
discuss the meetings that have been
held under the auspices of the order
during the winter and paid high trib-
ute to Mr.. Johnson, who was given an
ovation as he stepped to the front to
begin his address. He spoke in part as
follows: The people of the city of Wat
erville show their patriotism by being
present at this time and believe that
there are hundreds of others who
would be pleased to be here if they
were able to do so. On Monday the
Congress of the United States is called
together in extraordinary session by
the President, who has called them
two weeks earlier than he had planE ed,
and he did not do this unless he be-
lieved that this act was necessary.
This is the most momentous period in
American history. No one knows what
this will mean. When war first swept
Europe no one thought that the Unit
ed States would be involved. We were
across an ocean, in a splendid isola
ton. 1t was thought that we would
be able to work out our own plan. But
it has become impossible for us to
keep out, although all that is possible
y, has been done with this end in view.
The question arises, are we right? Does
| our conscience approve? What would
We have our country do? From the be-
ginning of the war our President has en-
forced neutrality, but his efforts have
| leln unavailing France and Germany
were old friends. We remember them
with gratitude. We wanted no contro-
versy with Germany. We have many mill
| lions of them in our citizenship and they
are among our best citizens. We have
hesitated to break relationships with the
| country of their birth, but it has now
| become necessary. She has trained her
young men to yield all to militar" neces-
i sity. Her navy was 10 4 | up by The
British navy in her harhcrs and was I'M
/ able to get out, so the new weapon of
| the seas, the submarine was used We
| would have had no controversy with Ger
many had it been used in accordance with
| the laws of nations and the practice of
! centuries, but they chose to sink ships
| without warning and to send women and
| children to the bottom of the sea. the eli
max coming with the sinking of the Sus
| sex, which was nothing more than a fer
! ryhoat and which had no military sup
plies and was of no military value. Amer
| lea has demanded that the sinking of
| ships must cease unless the crews and
| passengers are given a chance to get
away in safety. When the Sussex was
sunk the President said his last word in
| the matter and at that time Germany
promised to act in accordance with law,
but it continued to show that it dill not
intend to do so and finally renowned its
pledge and again began it's ruthless sub
marine warfare We have had trouble
with England, but England has not killec
single American, and besides there Is
a treaty between the United States and
England to submit all differences to ar
{
many and they said that they would
consider it, but they are still doing so
! This country is suffering from the at
tacks Of the German submarines. Lives
of Americans are taken in direct viola
ton of the laws of civilized nations.
What is our duty? 1t is to protect "lr
national rights, to discharge our duty
as the greatest of all neutral nations. We
must be true to conceptions of the rights
{ of humanity.
! believe that the President will stand
where he stood when he wrote the Sus-
sex note and that the position he took
at that time, he will enforce. We IAN
send words of encouragement to our
President and our congressman. / ex-
pect that they will be several days TAX
ing action as do not know Of anything
that will stop the Senate from talking
But I do believe that the President and
Congress will agree that an actual state
of war exists and will so declare It.