The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-07-21

duly ratified and proclaimed Hut rs
this work. too. We were made 10 feel
the same opposition az at The Hague
FOE ehile Great Britain, France Russia
and Italy cordially welcomed or over.
lures, The German and AuNtroIiuuga
rian Empires were uotlceahly absent
trum the list Of thege nations who do.
sired by specific agree meuts Ia adj
vance to minimize the danger Of war
On the exc Of the present conflict
our position toward other nations might
have been summarized under three
heads
/ The Monroe doctrine We had
pledged ourselves "a defend the New
World from European aggression. and
We had by word aud deed made il clear
that We would not intervene In any
European dispute
/ II The freedom ef the seas In every
naval conference our influence had
been given ia support Of the principle
+ that sea taw TO be just and worthy of
general respect must be based oH the
rousent OF the governed
( III Arbitration As we had secured
/ peace ut home by referring interstate
/ disputes to federal tribunal We
urged similar settlement Of inter
national controversies cur ideal vas
permanent world court We had al,
ready signed arbitration treaties not
only with great powers which might
coaerlgablF attack rs. bat even more
freely with weaker neiRhbofs Ia order
So show our good faith In recognizing
the equality of alt nations both great
and small We had made plain to the
nations onr purpose 10 forestall by
every meang IN our power the recur
renee Of wars IN the world
The outbreak Of var Ia 1914 caught
this Nation hy surprise The peoples
of Europe had had at least some warn.
Hgs Of the coming storm. bat To rs
such n blind. savage onslaught ON the
ideals Of civilization had appeared
impossible
The warNas ineompreheusible Either
side Was ehampioued here by millions
living among us sbo we're at European
birth Their contradictory accusations |
threw our thoughts into disafray. and
in the first chaotic days Ne could see
no clear issue that affected our ma
ttonal policy There Was no direct as
SAUL OH our rights II seemed al FIRST
10 most OF us a purely European dis |
gute and oar minds were not prepared |
tn take sides In such Il conflict The |
Presidents proclamation Of neutrality |
Was received by Us as natural aud |
inevitable II was quickly followed by |
his appeal to the citizens of the
Republic
Every man who really loves Amer
lea wili ac' and speak Ia the true
spirit of neutrality" he said. which Is
he spirit of iuparttaiity and fairness
aud friendliness to all concerned
II viii be- easy 10 excite passion and
difficult TO aIiay il" He expressed the
fear that cur Nation might become
div Ided Ia camps Of hostile opinion
Such divisions among rs might
seriously stand la the way of the
proper performance Of oar duty as the
one great nation al peace the one
people holding itself ready To play
part Of impartial mediation and speak
counsels Of peace and accommodation,
not A. PARTISAN bat az a friend
This purpose the preservation of
strict neutrality 10 order that later We
might he " use in the great task OF
iHfHAHit'H NSiAlbo''h W. wv ff'sI' |
dents early speeches
We are the mediating Nation Of the
world be declared ia an address on
April "a. 1915. We are compounded
N the nations Of the world, We me
itate their blood. We mediate their ira.
iitiens. we mediate their sentiments,
heir tastes, their passions, we are
compounded OF those things
We are, therefore, able Ia understand
hem In the compound mol separately
IS partisans. hut unitedty as knowing
md eomprehendiug and embodyiag
hem all II is Ia that sense that
mean that America Is a medatlus
Nation
American neutrality. ia those FIRST |
months Of The great war, was beyond /
,ny question real II
Bat the spirit Of neutrality was not y
.asy to maintain Public opinion vas il
deeply stirred hy the German invasion &
# Belgium and hy reports of atrocities K
here The Royal Bclgian Commits. {
ion, which came in September, 1914, D