The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-10-11
ADDRESS OF ROOT
OUTLINES OUR DUTY

The recent address delivered by Eli
hu Root, who headed the American
Commission to Russia, not only gives a
clear analysis of the causes that in
volved the United States in the great
European war, but Mr.. Root also
clearly outlines the path of duty for
loyal American citizens.
Significant excerpts from Mr.. Roots
address, as given by the Chicago Trib-
une. are as follows:
A nation which declares war and
goes on discussing whether 1t ought to
have declared war or not is impotent,
paralzyed, imbecile, and earns the con-
tempt of mankind and the certainty of
humiliating defeat and subjection to
foreign control.
A democracy which cannot accept its
own decisions, made in accordance
with its own laws, but must keep on
endlessly discussing the questions al
ready decided, has failed in the funda-
mental requirements of self govern.
ment and, if the decision is to make
war, the failure to exhibit capacity for
self government by action will newt
ably result in the loss of the right Of
self government.
Before the decision of proposal to
make war, men may range themselves
upon one side or the other of the ques-
ton; but after the decision in favor Of
war, the country has ranged itself,
and the only issue left for the individ-
ual citizen is whether he is for or
against his country. From that time
on arguments against the war in
which the country is engaged are en-
emy arguments.
Their, spirit is the spirit of rebellion
against the government and laws of
the United States. Their effect is to
hinder and lessen that popular support
of the government in carrying on the
war which is necessary to success.
Their manifest purpose is to prevent
action by continuing discussion.
They encourage the enemy. They
tend to introduce delay and irresolu-
tion into our own councils. The men
who are speaking and writing and
printing arguments against the war
now, and against everything which is
being done to carry on the war, are
rendering more effective service to
Germany than they ever could render
in the field with arms in their hands.
The purpose and effect of what they
are doing is so plain that it is impossi-
BILE to resist the conclusion that the
greater part Of them are at heart
traitors to the United States and will
fully seeking to bring about the tri-
umph of Germany and the humiliation
and defeat of their own country.
Anybody who seeks by argument or
otherwise to stop the execution of the
order sending troops to France and
Belgium is simply trying to prevent
the American government from carry
ing on the war successfully. He is
aiding the enemies of his country, and
if he understands what he is really do
ing, he is traitor at heart.
This war is war of defense. 1t is
perfectly described in the words of the
constitution which established this ma
ton: "To provide for the common
defense" and "To secure the blessings
of liberty to ourselves and our poster
ity."
The national defense demands not
merely force, but intelligence. 1t re-
quires foresight, consideration of the
policies and purposes of other nations,
understanding of the inevitable or
probable consequence of the acts of
other nations, judgment as to the time
when successful defense may be made,
and when it will be too late. and
prompt action before it is too late.
By entering this war in April the
United States availed itself of the
very last opportunity to defend itself
against subsection to German power
before it was too late to defend itself
successfully.
For many years we have pursued our
peaceful course of internal develop
ment protected in variety of ways.
We were protected by the law of Ina.
tions to which all civilized govern.
ments have professed their allegiance.
So long as we committed no injustice
ourselves we could not be attacked
without violation of that law.
We were protected by series OF
treaties under which all the principal
nations of the earth agreed to respect
our rights and to maintain friendship
with us. We were protected by an ex-
tensive system of arbitration created
by or consequent upon the peace con.
ferences at The Hague, and under
which all controversies arising were to
be settled peaceably by arbitration and
not by force.
We were protected by the broad ex-
panse of ocean separating us from .all
great military powers, and by the bold
assertion of the Monroe Doctrine that
if any of those powers undertook to
overpass the ocean and establish itself
upon these western continents that
would be regarded as dangerous to
the peace and safety of the United
States, and would call upon her to act
in her defense.
We were protected by the fact that
the policy and the feet of Great Brit
ain were we'll known to support the
Monroe Doctrine. We were protected
by the delicate balance of power in
Europe which made it seem not worth
while for any power to engage in a
conflict here at the risk of suffering
from its rivals there.
All these projections were swept
away by the war which began in Eu.
rope in 1914. The war was begun by
the concerted action of Germany and
Austria invasion of Serbia on the
east by Austria and the invasion of
Luxembourg and Belgium on the west
by Germany. Both invasions were in
violation of the law of nations, and
in violation of the faith of treaties.
Everybody knew that Russia was
bound in good faith to come to the re.
lief of Serbia, that France was bound
by treaty to come to the aid of Russia,
that England was bound by treaty to
come to the aid of Belgium, so that
the invasion of these two small states
was the beginning of general Euro
pean war.
These acts, which have drenched the
world with blood, were defended and
justified in the bold avowal of the Ger.
man government that the interests OF
the German state were superior to the
obligations of Jaw and the faith OF
| treaties. that no law or treaty. was