The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-22


contradiction of these high aims. Yet
there is no gainsaying the truth OF
! Washington's words; If we want to Sc
cure peace we must be AT all times ready
for war Indeed, the saying is truer now
than ever before For war to-day Is con.
Quoted on such colossal scale, and
makes Use OF such vast and multiiorm
organization Of economic and industrial
as well as military instrumentalities,
that nation unprepared to defend itself
might easily be snbjugated before It
had time TO organize its resources and
bring its armies into action. Could
Washington, therefore, speak to us to-
day he would more fervently than ever
! implore his countrymen to provide an
adequate national army, to prescribe uni
versal military training for our young
men, and to organize thoroughly in time
OF peace all the economic, industrial and
military forces which in time of war
would be necessary for the defense OF the
nation.
! Il want to consider, in the last place,
! Washington's conception OF the relation
OF the United States to other nations in
any form of league or alliance or concert,
or iii you prefer the more modern Ian
guagel in any kind of international or
ganization.
Washington described the policy OF
his administration in a letter which he
wrote 10 Gouyeneur Morris in December,
1895. My policy he says, has been, and
viii continue to be, while | have the hon
or to remain in the administration of the
government, to be upon friendly terms
with, but independent Of all the nations
OF the earth; to share in the brols OF
none; 10 fulfill our own engagements;
supply our own wants and be carried for
them all; being thoroughly convinced
that it is Our policy and interest to do
So The same rule of conduct in regard
to foreign nations he commends rs
permanent policy in The farewell ad-
dress. Let us extend our commercial
relations with them, but have as little
political connection as possible Here is
the classic passage;
Europe has a set OF primary inter
ests, which to us have none, or a very re-
mote relation. Hence she must be en-
gagged in frequent controversies, the
causes of which are essentially foreign
to our concerns. Hence therefore il must
be unwise in us TO implieate ourselves,
by artificial ties in the ordinary yicis
STUDIES of her politics, or the ordinary
combinations and collisions of her friend
ships, or enmities.
Our detached ard distant situation |
invites and enables us to pursue a diff |
ferent course.
"'Why forego the advantages of so
peculiar a situationl Why quit our own
stand upon foreign grounds Why, by |
Intervening our destiny with that OF |
any part OF Europe, entangle our peace |
and prosperity in the tolls of European |
riyalship, interest, humor or
caprice
""Tis our true policy to steer clear OF
permanent alliances with any portion OF
the foreign world
This passage is not encouraging to
the advocates of international organiza-
tions to compel peace among the nations.
And if not by physical compulsion, at
any rate by the pressure of public opin-
ion we Americans should, and / think do,
all deyoutly desire to see peace perma-
nently established in the world. Ii must
be recognized that in the last half cen
fury the nations OF the earth have come
into closer relations with one another
than ever before, that the welfare of
each is much more intimately bound up
with the welfare of all than in any pre-.
,eding period in the history of the world,
and that the preservation of universal
peace is matter of individual concern
70 each member OF the family of nations,
America, for instance. being profoundly
Effected and 1t may well be endangered
n wars in Europe, Asia or Africa.
This is a change brought about by
historical evolution which, of course,
'ould not have been foreseen. The tremen-
ious problem created by ii has not yet
been solved. And though / profoundly
with the object of the pro- |
,osed leagues and concerts TO enforce or !
establish universal peace, ! am unable to
onyinee myself that any method hither-
o proposed of accomplishing that result
will be found either feasible in itself or
desirable for adoption by the United {
states.
Perhaps some progress might be made /
{ we focused attention on the fact that
very nation besides being exclusive SOW !
reign over its own territory and terri /,
orial waters has also joint and equal
with every other nation on ,
he high seas, which, as we say, are ,,
therefore, free TO all. On that actual
Iridical basis it seems to me possible, {
nd indeed probable that an information
| structure might be reared for bring |
lg together the nations of the world S
nd commissioning those with navies C
Iintly TO maintain the freedom OF the b
cas- and TO restrain and punish any bel Il
gerent who infringed on the rights of I,
eutrals or violated the established prin- a
piles of maritime international law. In !,
Their words, if you want to prevent :.
airs, naval internationalism is the most y
opeful form Of attacking the problem
nd that for the reason that every ma e
on shares with all others joint and
Iual sovereignty over the high seas. 2
"But this suggestion of international 81
avail cooperation for the maintenance a
the freedom of the seas and the integ L
~ of the maritime law of nations, so n
II from disposing me 10 criticize Wash
gton's policy of abstention from parti a,
patton in European politics, only 4
rengthens and confirms my APP :.
'oval and admiration OF it. II is still y
ne that America has no interest in the -
balance of mower or no CON st