Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-22

ernment nor its policy in the present serious crisis.
 A Yankee, styling himself also a gen. uine Yankee, might see after reading
 his own letter that he is not neutral
 while being a citizen of a neutral
 power. In fact, he declares himself a
 born foe of England and asks us to
 recall Lexington Of '76 and the war of
 1872 to back up his hate, although
 Britain is only one of the entente pow CTS at war with Germany.
 Appealing to history as he requests, did not France assist us during the
 Revolution? Has A Yankee no sym pathy for France, whom England is helping to defend Paris? Didn't Russia send a detachment of her fleet to New York at a critical time in our Civil war to express her favor? Has A Yan-
 kee no sympathy with Russia at this time?
 If we are to recall Lexington and other fields, are we to forget the hired Hessians? Must we forget later epi- sode when Yankee admiral had to tell the way when he was about to en-
 gage the Spanish fleet in Manila bay O, yes, MT. Editor, there is difference in Yankees-and being a Yankee is no guarantee of mans loyalty. , Some Yankees were Tories during the Revolution, and Norwich-furnish- ing many good patriots, also contribut- ed one genuine traitor of execrated
  had some who were not in sympathy with us and they were called Copper heads.
 Let us here introduce an extract from
 the address of a genuine Yankee-a1so of New Haven ancestry-ex-Presid Taft, which contains in a few sane sentences the real issue before our country at this time. This address l here in part-was made before the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, after a three days session, in the city of Washing ton the present month. MT. Taft said E"I had prepared this address before Germany startled this country and all | neutrals by her last note. The actual l dangers with which it brings us face to face may seem to make what have been discussing theoretical, tame and inappropriate. The truth is, however, 1 that this great crisis only emphasizes | the importance of the purpose and plan of the league in the future history of ! this country.
 "of all things. we would avoid war We are not prepared for it. The awful consequences we know from Europe's suffering. Our prayer is for some es- cape from it in this critical hour con- sistent with our national honor and vital interests. But we must face the facts.
 'Tn her campaign against her ene- mics Germany proposes ruthlessly to wage war upon the property and lives | of neutrals in fragrant violation o1 | their rights. She began with Belgium 1 She now includes them all. Our na- | tional conscience is void of offense against her. Her cruel and indefensf- l ble drowning without warning of more 1 than hundred innocent Americans or the Lusitania we condoned in view ot | her pledge against a repetition. That pledge is now withdrawn and she avows her purpose to resume he1 l shocking course.
 fc &0 will be the unprovolzed 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 defiance of plain principles of justice and humanity which should obtain between civilized i nations.
 .In spite of her great strength and