Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-02-22

before in the history Of the world
have two such nations as the United
States and Germany severed dlplo-.
matte relations without war result
ing. There rests upon the shoulders
of our Honorable President, Woodrow
Wilson, and the government alone,
the preservation of international law,
as to whether we shall humbly sub
nit to this prejudiced act until it is
too late or whether we shall act now.
They tell US, sirs, that we are weak,
unable to offer resistance. But when
shall we be stronger? Will it be the
next week or the next year? Shall we
gather strength by irresoiutlon and
inaction? Shall we acquire the means
of effectual resistance by lying
supinely on our backs and hugging
the delusive phantom OF peace, While
our enemies are sending 20 Watery
grave our very brothers unmerci-
fully? Sirs, We are not weak. America
is the home of patriots. America is
not the home of towards. Here blood,
brains, culture, and the high ideals
of life present to the world the high
est type of patriotism. The Onlten
States is the greatest neutral power
in the world. The United States is
the only neutral country possessing
the necessary grit and backbone 10
start the ball rolling and once she
makes this step practically every
other neutral nation in the world Will
follow. Is it not better to take TINS
step rather than to allow the laws OIL
neutrality, the preserving OF which
we are pledged to uphold, to be thus
torn apart by Germany? What neu-
trail nations would join the United
States. combined with the Allies'
conld crush with a single blow the
very spark that has set ahre the
present European war, Germany
Such a step only can bring about
that for which our loyal and faith
FIJI president has so long been strlv-
inc-a universal peace. The lowiy
Nazarene, on the shores OF Galliee'
nre,ched the divine doctrine OF love,
"Peace on earth, good will toward
men," Not peace on earth at the eN-
Dense of liberty and humanity! MOI
good will toward people stained
with the blood of their felloW-meh
and wishing to crush Christian ma
t;onl | believe in the doctrine OIL
Christ. I believe in the doctrine oil
paace. But sirs, we must have nd
erty before there can come abiding
ipeace.
True Americans, shall we risk 1t?
That is the question. You may cry
and plead that we attempt to pre-
serve peace longer, but there is no
peace. The war is actually begun and
until Germany is wiped off the face
of the earth you may hope for peace
in vain. The time for action has, then:
come. No greater reason for it can
exist tomorrow than exists today
Each hours delay only adds another
chapter to the awful story Of misery
and death. What would you gentle
men wish? What would you have?
Give us the spirit Of '76--that Of ON
forefathers-that is what we should
have. Shall we permit any nation
to deprive us of the liberty for which
they so bravely gave their lives? is
life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to
be purchased at the hands of semi
barbarious nation, driven to despair
hung by her own hand? Shall Amer
lea, The Republic of the world, thus
commit suicide? Forbid it, Almighty
God! know not what course others
may take, but as for me, give me the
unbounded liberty of the Stars anc
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