Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-09
ROOT EXPRESSES
| BELIEF IN RUSSIA
Also Sees Serfd0m for u. 8. If
Germany Wins the Pres
ent War.

A Pacific Port, Aug. 5.-Elihu Root. spe-
cial ambassador to Russia, and the MEM
bers Of the American mission were guests
of the city yesterday at luncheon at
tended by several thousand persons. His
address was heard with almost breathless
attention.
"This special mission" said Mr.. Root.
els returning from long and fatiguing
journey to a new sister republic. This Is
a diplomatic mission. and 1t Is not feasible
until we have delivered our message to the
State department that we should talk
about what we have seen and what we
have heard. I cannot refrain, however,
from saying that we bring back from Rus
sia the greatest sympathy and the great
est admiration for that young democracy.
now struggling to solve problems within
a few months that this country has been
struggling to solve for A0 years-and
has solved We bring back the kindliest
feeling and the greatest respect for the
Russians; for their high degree OF self
control their ability for concerted action.
We bring back an abiding faith that this
great, free, self-soverning democratic
government shall be maintained intact.
"In Russia, almost within the sound OF
the guns, I think we got little nearer to
the truth in this great war upon which our
country has embarked; deeper reaiisa-
ton than the people Of the United States
appreciate. We see now why all the world
| Is at war. We see that for centuries we
have been building UP a structure for CIV
ilization. We have fondly believed thai
the world was growing more humane
more just. We have believed that the old
dark days of tyranny and cruelty were
passed away, and that the nations OF the
earth had entered into a solemn covenant
to keep alive those divine principles un
der which we propose to live.
SERFS IF GERMANY WINS.
1--WE see now, more clearly than ever
| a great military power. a great militar,
autocracy, proceeding upon the princi
pies of the dark and cruel past. throwing
down the gauntlet to the liberty Of ou
day. We see Germany repudiate the ruiz
of morality among nations-the binding
faith Of treaties-without which the so
ciety Of nations cannot endure: we SCI
these principles cast aside with cynica
indifference. The principles Of lbert.
and slavery. Of good and evil. have locked
horns in mortal struggle We see tina
the principles Of our fathers must g
down before this German moloch unles
the triumphant manhood of our republic
gives support.
LAS surely as the sun shall rise to-mor
row. II this war ends with the triumph o
Germany, this country will become sub
ject nation, for the temperament Of tn
German ruling power will turn to thes
purple fields, these rich and vast space
of the western hemisphere. Leave you
wealth on the sidewalk and trust tina
, the passing thief will not touch it, SEN
forth your richly laden ships and trus
that the pirate will let them pass, a
. we'll as trust that security will come wit
: German victory!
There will be orphans. and there wi
, be widows homes. There will be doub
and almost despair. but In the end ther
will be a great. free country. re-made
the spirit Of our fathers, to carry libert
and Justice throughout the world"