New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-15
He Deplores in Nebraska
Speech Failure to Pre-
pare for War
Pleads for Funds
To Aid Red Cross
Colonel Cheered by Throng
at Semi-Centennial in
Lincoln

Lincoln, Neb., June 14.-Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt. who arrived here
to-day TO deliver the principal ad-
dress on this, the closing day Of the
celebration Of the semi-centennial of
Nebraska statehood, was welcomed by
a great crowd which paraded and sang
and cheered. He held reception at a
hotel "for personal friends only"
81 wanted to 60 to the war" he said,
"and the people wanted me to 60. But
now l am feeling fine. l keep my
good health by having a very bad tenn
per. kept under good control"
Colonel Roosevelt delivered an ad-
dress on "Americanism" in the after
noon.
lie criticised the national policy Of
the United States for failure TO pro-
test promptly against German ruthless
ness and brutality, deplored national
failure to prepare for the war, pleaded
for undivided loyalty 10 the American
flag, denounced the pacifists and asked
for generous support and use OF the
Red Cross in caring for American
troops on European battlehelds.
Policy Swayed by Traitors
I've permitted our national policy
ne said, TO be swayed by the nationa!
devotions and national antipathles OF
men who exercised the rights OF Amerl-
can citizens but showed themselves
traitors 70 America by the way IN
which they prostituted our citizenship
70 the interests of Germany or TO their
hatred Of England.
1T would be impossible 70 overstate
the damage done 10 the morale hore OF
our country by the professional pacltlst
propaganda, the peace-at-any-prlc
propaganda. The professional paclhsts
during the first two and a half years
Of the war have occupied precisely the
pos.tion of the COpperheads during the
time Of Abraham Lincoln.
The fact that sheer cowardlce was
more potent than the love Of peace was
proved by the fact that the leading
pacifsts dared not condemn a single
specifc act Of wrong doing when sucn
act was committed by the powerful and
brutal foe they most feared-Germany
"Au this meanness and abandon
ment Of duty was champloned By the
professional pacifsts on the plea that
thereby we should be kept out OF war.
And by their political pressure, they
lent us from preparing, and
kent US utterly unprepared, on the
ground that preparedness invited war;
They cared nothing for our national
honor or interest. All they asked was
peace that would permit US 70 get
all four feet in the trough while we
strove to distract attention from the
souald baseness Of our materlalism oy
the shrill clamor Of a sham-senu-
mentality.
Asks Undivided Americanism
prom this time on let US insist on
an absolute and undivided Amerlcanlsm
in This land. untempered by any self
allegiance 10 the countries from when
orr ancestors may severally nave
sr~ung. and untainted by any IN
worthy national animosity toward any
other country. Let US prepare our
selves spiritually, economically ana IN
All military and naval matters-lncI
ing as a permanent policy the po4lcy o.
universal military training and service
so that never again snail we De u
terly unready 70 meet great c'.Sis.
Finally, in the present war WaI
for liberty and democracy agalhsV NJ
ruthless uilitaristic tyranny OF the
Prussianized Germany OF the honen-
zo1Ierns. let US as speedily as possible
80 onr giant. but our soft and an
readv. strength, so that we may use
our hardened might 20 BRING tne
Slaughter 20 a real and final end In the
oniv wav honorably possible by secur-
ing for ourselves and our alhes the
neece OF Justice based on oyer"he!m-
5Tbe fault lies primarily in our com
,1o,a failure 70 prepare during the last
,bree wears. We owe our ignob!e saleVy
IN tho British fleet and the French anu
English armies. Uncle sam IS IN w
vndignifed position Of the man "Ho
Cts On a streetcar and then fumo!es IN
fis pocket while somebody else pays
his fare" BOD
In his appeal for support for ~. the s Keq
Cross and aid for its SlOO,OVO'OOO IuAU
Colonel Roosevelt SAID: -,
4Here is summons 70 every amer
= ;s an enormous sum Of money;
but what comfort can We take IN win
toiding that or any other sum OF money
IL n is needed 20 relieve the SUFFERING
~ our own sons or the sons OF our
allies. who are fighting for all that
makes life worth living! H..
"Into our Red Cross without SUM
should be poured q heartfelt onerihg
~ Thanksgiving that We are permitted
~ ioin in this great service TO all man,
Ina When our own men are wounded
1 ~- they surely will be, in great NUM-
bers-are we going 20 allow them TO
suffer yet more because we fail 70 pro.
,,i5e those things which can at least
mitigate distress? Surely not. But
,,e rsust do il in advance. II We wait II
NAV be TOO late. DO it now
The Colonel left at 1880 tonight FOR