New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-26

cal parties for their failure to be more
than agencies for the distribution OF
public Offices" He appealed TO the
members of the National Security
League 70 start a movement which
would make of the parties an instru-
ment for crystallizing public sentiment
on the vital national questions. making
Of them year-round organizations which
should hold meetings of their members
in MUNICIPALITIES at least once year.
IN the states once in two years, ana
throughout the nation every four
years, TO adopt platforms that would
represent the people, and not merely
small group Of politicians whose motto
was party safety first
One Thousand Delegates
The present convention of the Ma
tional Security League is the largest
aid most important the society has
ever held. The thousand delegates rep
resent $40 societies. with a member
ship Of more than 100000.
The leagues purpose IN calling TINS
meeting is TO adopt means for edu-
eating the people of the United States
in American traditions. Leaders Of the
movement believe that the present leth-
srgy is due to an imperfect under
standing of these traditions. and that
the vital question of national defence
can be solved only through a re
awakening"
"lIe drives his cow to pasture, and
is himself lust as undisturbed as the
cow" Mr.. Root said in his speech of
the typical take-it-easy American at
titude toward vital national problems.
The discouraging part Of agitatlng
for national defence by pointing 10
national peril is that nobody will be-
ieve you, said Mr.. Root.
1--WE have had warnings all along,
he said. "wars a little over every
twenty years during our entire his
tory. 1t is nineteen years now since
the last, and we are due TO have one
pretty soon. But they don't believe
that anything is going to happen
He pointed out that half the Mill
tary power of the world" supports the
proposition that there is no obligation
on nations TO support international
agreements, and added that iii that
principle Of national conduct be ap-
proved in the struggle that Is pend
ing. then our American freedom Will
surely die. and die while We live
Mr.. Roots Address
Mr.. Root said:
Americas present need is reawak-
ening of the spirit of a free self-gov-
erning democracy. And unless we are
&c wait until some great and terrible
misfortune brings that awakening,
each one of us, whose eyes are open
10 the condition and the demands Of
the times, must do his utmost TO render
his service and awaken his fellows.
"Now / wish i could say something
] would like 10 say something not so
much to lead or TO convince you, whose
eyes are already open, and who
have come here because they are
open, but something that will en-
able you when you go home TO
stir your fellow cOuntrymen, men and
women, out of the lethargy into which
they have fallen.
1--WE have reached this condition Of
indifference and sluggish patriotism
through decadence. As life has grown
easier sacrifice has grown harder. As
We have grown rich in material things
We have grown poor in spirit.
For Freedoms Preservation
The original theory of our Amer
can government was the theory of uni
versal service. Let me read you how
the fathers Of the Republic conceived
that American independence and Amer
lean freedom were TO be preserved.
81 read from the act-the militia act