Evening star., 1917-02-22
CITES WASHINGTON
ASU. S. GUIDE STILL
DR.. Jacob Gould Schurman
Speaks at University of
Pennsylvania.
RECALLS ADVICE TO NATION

by The Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, February e.
George Washington after century
and a quarter still remains the pole
star of American foreign policy. de-
clared Jacob Gould Schurman. president
of Cornell University, today in an ad-
dress before the University of Pennsyl-
vania, which suspended its regular aca-
demic functions for exercises in cele-
bration of Washington's birthday.
DR.. Schurman recalled how Washing
ton attended commencement at the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania in May, 1715-
then known as the College OF Philadel-
phia-in company with the other mem
bers Of the Second Continental Con-
gresS. Toward the conclusion of his
address Dr. Schurnan. after having
discussed Washinstcn's pre-eminence
as q soldier and statesman, his Ameri-
canism and his insistence on American
rights, said:
How inspiriting is the example of
Washington to Americans today! Once
more a great European power menaces
our rights. We are forbidden to sail
our ships or to travel where We Will on
the high seas under penalty of being
sunk without warning by submarines.
The German government draws lines
across the ocean. which is free to all,
and says to America: Thus far shalt
thou come. but no farther. Now We
recognize the restrictions of q leEiti-
mate blockade and the penalties of car
rying contraband; these are fixed by
the law of nations. But apart from
these limitations American ships and
American passengers have right to go
where they Will on all the seven seas.
Nation Must Defend Its Rights"
.ssre +ba-a any 1zla yx-esl|y ,dvIss VS.
to forego our rights. in Difference to
the German challenge? Would Ger
many, I ask, forego her rights If in her
place America without any warrant of
law had set aside a vast tract of ocean
for ruinous depredations on the COM
merce of neutrals and ruthless attack
on the lives of non-comba tants? Could
any great nation survive, ought any
great nation to survive. which cravenly
Yields its rights at the summons of the
aggrssSor? The same law which guar
antees our rights TO territorial waters
authorizes us 10 sail freely on the high
seas If belligerents are permitted to
exclude Us from the oceans, why should
they not also appropriate our terri
torial waters-or even march their
armies across our frontiers? The sur
render OF one national right weakens
and imperils every other. Come what
may, our nation must defend its rights.
And with united hearts and resolute
determination the American people
stand behind President Wilson; and
they will not tolerate either the
paralysis of American shipping or the
murder of american citizens
There is g third feature Of Wash
ington's craftsmanship which is es-
time" DR.. Schurman also pointed out.
Il mean his advocacy of military pre-
paredness and his general attitude on
the questions OF peace and war.
ph
general and fought a victorious war
for national independence he was no
g1orifier of militarism. On the other
hand, he was equally removed from
pacifism. He regarded war as one of
the inevitable features of national
existence.
First President for Preparedness.
Listen to the wise words ne ad-
dressed to Congress in his first speech
after reelection:
"T cannot recommend TO your notice
measures for the fulhllment of our
duties TO the rest of the world without
again pressing upon you the necessity
of placing ourselves in a condition of
complete defense, and of exacting from
them the fulfillment of their duties
toward us. The United States ought
not to indulge a persuasion that, con-
trary to the order of human events,
they will forever keep at a distance
those painful appeals to arms with
which the history of every other ma
ton abounds. There is a rank due to
the United States among nations. which
will be withheld. II not absolutely lost,
by the reputation of weakness. If We
desire to avoid insult we must be able
to repel it; If we desire to secure peace
one of the most powerful instruments
of our rising prosperity-it must be
known that we are at all times ready
for war
"In this passage you have Washing
tons whole philosophy of peace. war
and preparedness. Nothing truer or
wiser has ever been written, and Wash
ington's words are as true and wise
and applicable today as they We're when
he uttered them in 1888. Undoubtedly
there have been many changes IN the
century and quarter that has since
elapsed. Communications by sea and
Z land have greatly improved, Intercourse
with foreign countries has increased,
international relations have been multi
piled. But human nature is substan-
tally unchanged, and national am bi-
tions and rivairies, stimulated by great
e. prizes, are most intense and perhaps
more explosive than ever before. What
ever be the future prospects Of the hu-
man race, we have not yet reached that
stage of rational and moral develop
lnnt III which justice. righteousness
and public law Gan dispense with the
sanctions o; physical force.
Washington Against Alliances.
u want 10 consider, in the last place.
Washington's conception OF the relation
Of the United States to other nations in
any form OF league or alliance or concert.
Or Qf you prefer the more modern Ian
guage) in any kind OF International Or
ganization.
washington described the policy of his
administration in a letter which he wrote
10 Gouveneur Morris in December, 1885.
Ny policy ne says, has been, and will
continue to be, while have the honor TO
remain in the administration OF the gov
Z ernment. 20 he upon friendly terms with,
but independent Of, all the nations of the