Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-06

characterizing treaties as mere scraps
u paper; neutrality" as "just word
which In war time has SO often been
disregarded," the sentiment expressed by
Pastor d. Baumgarten: Anyone who
cannot bring himself to approve from the
bottom Of his heart the sinking Of the
Lusitania, and give himself up to honest
Joy at the victorious exploit such
a one we deem no true German" These
and many others SO we'll known that they
are common knowledge, reveal the per-
sistency Of the ancient hostility of Prus-
sianism to free government and the
menace, the dreadful portent this war
presents to the world.
The present generation Of Americans
has been absorbed with gainful enter
prise within the confines of its own lands;
SO busy promoting within this country the
doctrines Of liberty, Justice, peace and
prosperity, that the rolling Of the Prussian
Juggernaut over Belgium was not COM
pretended as the beginning Of a crushing
process aimed at civilized means of pre-
serving peace. which might involve the
destruction of our own cherished form Of
government and benefcent institutions.
our Wanted freedom, safety and OPP
portunity for individual development. And
we suffered for 1t, in the estimation of the
world. In foreign lands where Americans
met other nationals the scorn for what
seemed on our part mercenary,
pusillanimous policy was but little con-
cealed; and we were charged with lack
Of foresight; a disposition to acquire
wealth at the cost Of public virtue. Indeed
1t was believed by some foreigners that
| our population consisted Of SO many
different racial classes that we had no
real national spirit, and were incapable
of entering the war as a unified people.
But there came day when. to the glory
Of truth and to the honor Of the United
States of America. we caught the possible
significance Of German victory in this
war, and threw ourselves into the conflict
without ACKNOWLEDGMENT for conquest, not
for indemnity-but. in the immortal phrase
of President Wilson declaring 1.-THE world
must be safe for democracy" Admitting
| that we lacked the rectifying perspective
of history to make complete the revelation
of the full Significance of the war; still
we did perceive that the issuc involved
the fundamental supports of national
existence-the validity and effectiveness OF
international treaties. We did comprehend
that the triumph Of absolutism threatened
to be the death blow to democracy. We
finally witnessed the keen edge Of Prus-
sian hate directed ut the throat of Ameri-
|
must not only fight for the present de-
fence of liberty and justice in the world.
but that the imperative duty was upon
us to help our valiant allies, France. Great
Britain, Italy and others to permanently
disable military despotism from future
predatory undertakings. Indeed our
patriotism and courage were challenged
by the danger expressed by one OF our
most conservative and reliable statesmen.
Elihu Root in startling words: THE
principles Of our fathers must 60 down
before this German Moloch. unless the
/ triumphant manhood Of our republic gives
support. AS surely as the sun shall rise
tomorrow, If this war ends with the
triumph of Germany, this country will
become a subject nation"
Grave was the crisis in 176. and glorious
the achievement Of our courageous
fathers founding in this New World free
government upon the nobility Of man as a
man, and transmitting as they did to
liberal minds in the Old World the
stimulus which FASTENED the development
Of popular sovereignty in france and Eng
land. Extremely unsafe was freedom IN
1866, and magnificent the contribution to
the cause of liberty and equality In the
world was the triumph Of our fathers over
the Rebellion. Even in our own time we
take pride in the less important, but
significant event when our Dewey sailed
into Manila bay and put the beech SEAL
on the back of the Spanish sovereign. and
Cuba and the Philippines were freed from
the tyranny of despotic government.
But our fathers never confronted a
graver or more dangerous peril than that
which we now face, nor did they achieve
more important benefit to mankind
tea ut
victory by ourselves and our allies now
offers. The circumstances excite our
most loyal and patriotic activity. We
cannot all 'go over the top; but every
one of us can do something effective to
help win the war. The women Of this
land are doing it now. Every day pre-
sents it's opportunity in one way or an
other: to conserve our resources. to
J finance the cause, to protect the country
; from the pacifist and the enemy within
our gates. to labor in agriculture and
, other necessary employment to devote
professional skill where required either
directly or indirectly for the cause: and
all the time to support and boost the
) war without regard to party politics
! Now indeed can we prove to the world
that we are Americans without hyphens
and that we glory in national spirit
unrivalled by any power of the puresi
r strain of blood. Let the spirit of LII
t find it's progeny of 1917 worthy of the
character, wisdom and courage Of itself
l Let the pride which we have that Ole
r Glory never was unfurled over armed
men except in the cause of liberty ant
3 popular sovereignty and never was strucl
8 in ultimate defeat. be increased by victory
= in this great cause where the hope of al
humanity depends upon a single decision
/, The peace Of the world depends upor
Q this judgment. The irreconcilable an
> tagonism between liberty and despotisn
which has been the direct or indirec
:, issue Of most of the wars Of history nov
(; involves the greater part of civilized
t mankind and must end in the destruction
t of one or the other. With Gods help
( 1t will be the end Of military despotism
1 The benefit to the world cannot be mil
e lennial but 1t will be greater than W
K can calculate. The institutions Of gov
z eminent founded upon the principle o
i civil liberty. knowing no sovereign blu
i the sovereign people," will survive
/: Humanity. relieved Of the threat of wa
e and its concomitant burdens and re
= strictions. will be liberated to develo
a spiritually, mentally. socially. POLITICAL
and commercially. The relation Of on
10 nation to another will he like that whic
y has existed for more than a century be
= tween our great neighbor. the Dominic
% of Canada. and ourselves whose friendl
l. borders have never confronted eac
d other with the hate breeding machiner
k of war. but unite like the clasped hand
Of fellowship which we inculcate In GU