The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-26

endure It must be made by the major
force of mankind" and said
IL do not understand II as in
tended to commit tire United
States TO enter into n convention
or treaty with the other civilized
countries of the world which viii
hind the United States to go 10
war on the continent of Europe
or of Asia. or in any other part
of the world without the people
Of the United States having an OPP
pdaTuntty at the time 10 say
whether they shall go TO war or
not.
What understand by 1t is that
a convention shall he made by which
all the civilized nations shall agree
with all their power to stand behind
the maintenance of the peace thus
agreed upon. and If that peace he In
fringed upon then under the sanction
of that agreement each nation shall
determine what is its duty towards
the maintenance of that peace But
observe that that is worthless, mean
ingless, unless nations that enter into
it keep their power behind IT."
As TO the Monroe Doctrine.
4=a.-- Ar Root declared that the prtncl-
plies of the Monroe Doctrine had been
preserved by the peculiar political
structure of Europe, the balance OF
power, and England's control of the
seas.
Suppose the result of this war Is
such that these foreign influences that
have helped preserve the Monroe Doc
trine disappear. and we are not ready
to defend it he asked. The Monroe
Dotcrine viii be worthless. Then the
fancied security and sweet, comfort
able ease of eur people will be re-
piaced~by alarms and rumors OF war
and attack upon occasion. For the
Monroe Doctrine was based upon
sound wisdom, and the abandonment,
of it or the destruction of 1t will be
the end OF security
Mr.. Root declared that victory for
the principles announced by the leu
tonic allies would mean the downfall
OF American freedom. He said:
The present war which is raging
In Europe was begun upon an avowaI
of principles OF national action that
no reasonable and thoughtful neutra
could ignore; the principles that 6
State exigency, State interest Is SUI
control individuals
Treaty Scrap of Paper.
And upon that principle 1t wa.
declared that there was no obligation
upon a nation 10 keep the faith OF
a treaty If ii did not suit its interests
II was declared that there was nc
obligation upon a nation to observe
The rules OF that law OF nations upon
which all civilized States have agreed
II II did not suit It's interests
Upon that principle little Servia
was served with an utimatum that
demanded the surrender OF her In
dependence; and upon her failure to
comply TO the uttermost she was over
whelmed. Upon that principle little
Belgium that had no quarrel with any
body was served with a demand that
she surrender her Independent rights
as a neutral and violate her solemn
agreements 10 preserve her neutrality
And upon her refusal TO surrender
her rights and violate her faith She
was overwhelmed, and that principle
Is sttll maintained and asserted to be
right
1T does not matter much what you
and | think about these things; It does
not matter that think they were I'M
moral and criminal. as | do. it tioesn'
matter. ! think. that II that principle
of national conduct Is to be main,
tanned and approved in this world
then liberty and civilization must die
i Death to liberty.
What does matter is that approx