The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-06-14
Crges Undivided American.
ism From This Time
Forward.
tBy Associated Pressl

LINCOLN, Neb., June 14.-Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt, in a speech which
10 delivered here today at the celebra-
tioti Of the semi centennial Of the Stale
hood Of Nebraska, criticized the ma
tionai policy of the United States for
failure to protest promptly against
German ruthlessness and brutality, de-
TIofed national failure to prepare for
the war, pleaded for undivided loyalty
% the American flag, denounced the
pacitists, and asked for generous sup
port and for the use Of the Red Cross
~ caring for American troops on Eu'
Tupean battletields.
we permitted our national policy"
ne said, ito be swayed by the national
deyotions and national antipathies OF
men who exercised the rights Of Am
eriean citizens but showed themselves
traitors to America by the war IN
which they prostituted our citizenship
70 the interests Of Germany or to their
hatred Of England.
1T would be impossible to over
state the damage done to the moral
fibre Of our country by the profession
ii pacifists propaganda, the peace at
any.price propaganda. The profession,
n pacifists during the first two and
a half years of the war, have occu'
pied precisely the position of the cop
perheads during the time of Abraham
Lincoln,
NThe fact that sheer cowardice was
more potent than the love Of peace
was proved by the fact that the leading
pacifists dared not condemn sin
gle specific act Of wrong.doing when
such act was committed by the power
ftil and brutal foe they most feared
Germany. They clamored for neutral
ity between Germany and Belgium
They denounced war in language
which reflected as heavily on the IA
theirs who were defending their wives
and daughters from outrage as upon
Tie aggressors who systematically
pfacticed rape and torture. By their
failure to protest against the innu'
man torture Of the poison gas they
made It necessary hereafter to accept
this as an ordinary instrument OF
warfare: Just as, by our failure to take
Immediate action in connection with
the murder of innocent non.combat-
ants by submarines, we committed an
offense against humanity the effects
81 which cannot be completely eradl
Gated by any subsequent action on our
part.
',A1I this meanness and abandon
mant of duty was championed by the
professional pacifists on the plea that
thereby we should be kept out OF
war And by their political pressure,
they prevented US from preparing, and
kept us utterly unprepared, on the
ground that preparedness invited war;
their motto was Safety first not
duty first They cared nothing for
righteousness. They cared nothing
4 for humanity. They cared nothing for
our national honor or interest. All
they asked was peace that would
permit Us to get all four feet in the
trough while we strove to distract
attention from the,squalid baseness Of
our materialism by the shrill clamor
Of shan. sentimentality.
And nevertheless We have not been
Kent out Of war. Our avoidance Of
duty simply invited such cumulative
repetition of insult and injury that fin
ailys war Was forced on us It mere
IL resulted In our drifting into war
stern foremost, in a.condition Of such
complete unreadiness that we owe an
lgnobIe safety exclusively to the pro-
tection Of the exhausted nations to
whose helprwe hEEe<announced that
ne intend ttO,come.
rom this time4ons lei. rs insist on
IN absoluto and undivided American
Ism "A this land, untempered by any
cen, Allegiance to'the countries from
witch our ancestors may severally
nave sprung, and untainted by any un-
worthy national luminosity towards any
other country. Let US prepare our
selves spiritually economically, and In
allmfiitary 'aud naval matters includ.
ng as . permanent policy the policy
81 universal military training and ser
vice 10 that never again shall we be
uEtogIy unEeady. as we now are, to
meet Q great crisis. FINALLY, IN the
present war, Q war for liberty and
democracy against the ruthless 1nfli-
tafistic tyranny uEathe PRusBtRutzed
Canyf oesthe HohenzoT1eTns, let US
IS ediIys CSsible' giant.