The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-03-09

My Fellow Citizens; lhe louI
years which have elapsed since last |
stood in this place have been crowd
} ed with counsel and action OF the
most vital interest and consequence.
Perhaps no equal period in our his
tory has been so fruitful OF important
T reforms in our economic and indus
} trial life or SO fun OF significant
changes in the spirit and purpose OF
our political action
We have sought very thoughtmlly
To set our house in order, correct the
ETosser errors and abuses OF our in.
dustrial life, liberate and quicken the
processes OF our National genius and
energy, and lift our politics TO a
broader view of the peoples essential
interests Il is record ot singular
variety and singular distinction.
But / shall not attempt 10 review
it, IL speaks for itself. and will be o.
increasing influence as the years 80
by This is not the time for retro
speCt II is time rather TO speak ou'
, thoughts and purposes concerning
the prccsnt and the immediate future,
Although we have centered Coun
sci and action with such unusual
concentration and success upon the
great problems az domestic legisla-
ton To which " addressed ourselves
four years ago. other matters have
more and more forced them
selves upon our attention. matters
lying out side our own life as n Ma
tion and over which We had no con
troll. but which. despite our wish tn
keep free OF them. have drawn us
| more and more irresistibly into their
own current and influence
1T has been impossible 10 avoid
them They have affected the life ot
the whole world They have shaken
men everywhere with "A passion and
an apprehension they never knew
before II has been hard to preserve
calm counsel while the thought OF
our own people swaycd this way and
that under their influence.
1--WE are composite and cosmo-
politan people. We are of the blood
] III All Nllt 4NdllbllN NllhN ''' '' ''f
The currents of our thoughts as we'll
as the currents OF our trade run
quick al all seasons back and forth
between Us and them. The war IN
evitably set its mark from the hrst
alike upon our minds. our industries.
our commerce. our politics and our
social acion. To be Indifferent 10 II.
OF Independent OF II. was out Of the
,LestiOn
And vet all the while We have
been conscious that we were not part
OF IT, In that consciousness, despite
many divisions. we have grown closer
together We have been deeply
wrOnged upon the seas but We have
not wished TO wrong or injure I'm re-
turn: have retained throughout the
consciousness OF standing In some
sort apart. intent upon an Interest
that transcended the Immediate Is
sues OF the war itself
AS some OF the injuries done us
have become intolcrable we have
still been clear that We wished moth
ing for ourselves that We were not
ready 10 demand for all mankind
fair dealing; justice. the freedom 10
live and be at ease against organized
wrong.
1T is in this spirit and with this
thought that we have grown moro
and more aware. more and more GER
tain that the part we wished to play
was the part OF those who mean TO
vindicate and fortify peace. We have
been obliged 10 arm ourselves TO
make good our claim 10 "A certain
minimum OF right and OF freedom OF
;.ction.
I'VE stand firm in armed neutral
ity, since IL seems that in no other
way we can demonstrate what II rs
we insist upon and cannot forego.
we may even be drawn on, by
circumstances. not by our own pur-
pose or desire, 10 more active as
sertlon OF our rights as we see them
and a more immediate association
with the great struggle Itself
But nothing will alter our thought
or our purpose. They are too clear
20 be Cbscured. They are too deep
ly rooted I'm the principles OF our
National life 10 be altered We de-
side neither conquest nor advantage
we wish nothing that can be had
only az the cost o. another people.
We always profess unsclhsh purpose.
and We coyet the opportunity 10
prove that our professions are sin
I ccrc
There are many things still 10 do
NJ home. TO clarity our own politics
and add new vitality 10 the industrial
. processes OF our own life. and We
shall do them as time and opportun-
ity serve; but we realize that the
greatest things that remain 20 be
done must be done with the whole
world for stage and In cooperation
with the wide and universal forces
OF mankind, and we arc making our
spirits ready for those things.
They will follow I'm the immedi
a'o wake OF the war itself and will
set civilization up again We are
. sFt. a