The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-22
Was Plea Of President Schur-
man of Cornell
University
OUR NATION MUST
DEFEND IT'S RIGHTS"
Lessons from George Wash
ington's Career Drawn
for Present Situation

Philadelphia, Pa, Feb. % George
Washington, after century and a quar-
ter, still remains the pole star of Amer
lean foreign policy, declared Jacob Could
Schurman, president of Cornell uniyer-
sity to-day in an address before the
| University of Pennsylvania. which sus-
pended its regular academic functions
| for exercises in celebration of Washing
tons birthday,
DR.. Sehurman recalled how Washing
ton attended commencement at the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania in May. l775---
then known as the College of Philadel-
phia-in company with the other mem
bers of the second continental Congress.
Toward the conclusion of his address, DIR.
Schurman, after having discussed Wash
ington's -eminence as a soldier and
statesman, his Americanism and his in
sistence on American rights, said:
"How inspiriting is the example of
Washington to Americans to-day Once
more great European power menaces
our rights. We are forbidden to sail our
ships or to travel where we will on the
high seas under penalty of being sunk
without warning by submarines. The
German government draws lines across
the ocean. which is free to all and says
to America; Thus far shalt thou Come.
but no farther Now we recognize the
restrictions of legitimate blockade and
the penalties of carrying eontraband;
these are fixed by the law of nations.
But apart from these limitations Amer
lean ships and American passengers have
a right to 60 where they will on all the
seven seas,
Are there any who weakly advise us
to forego our rights in Difference to the
German challenge? Would Germany, |
ask, forego her rights if in her place
America without any warrant of law
had set aside vast tract OF ocean for
ruinous depredations on the commerce of
neutrals and ruthless attack on the lives
of non-combatantsf Could any great
nation survive. ought any great nation
to survive, which cravenly yields its
rights at the summons OF the aggressor
The same law which guarantees our
rights TO territorial waters authorizes ms
to sail freely on the high seas. If bel
ligerents are permitted to exclude us
from the oceans, why should they not |
also appropriate our territorial waters r.
or even march their armies across our |
frontierss The surrender Of one nation. |
al right weakens and imperils every 9TH |
er. Come what may our nation must de- |
fend its rights. And with united hearts |
and resolute determination the Amer. /
lean people stand behind President viii |
paralysis of American shipping or the
murder of American citizens.
There is third feature of Washing
toms craftsmanship which is especially |
instructive at the present time" DIR.
Schurman also pointed out. Il mean his
advocacy of military preparedness and
his general attitude to the questions Of |
peace and war.
Though Washington was a great gen
rial and fought victorious war for ma
.ional independence he was no glorifer
II militarism. On the other hand he |
vas equally removed from paeifsm. He
'egarded war as one of the inevitable
eatures of national existence. Listen to
he wise words he addressed to Congress
n his FIRST speech after reelection:
81 cannot recommend to Your notice
measures for the fulfllment of our duties
o the rest OF the world, without again
PRESSING upon you the necessity of plac-
ng ourselves in a condition of complete
efense, and of exacting from them the
uliillment of their duties towards us.
The United States ought not TO indulge
persuasion. that, contrary to the order
{ human events, they will for ever keep
t distance those painful appeals to ,
rms, with which the history of every
Their nation abounds.- There is a rank ,
ne TO the United States among nations,
,hich will be withheld, If not absolutely :
Dst, by the reputation of weakness. If In
re desire to avoid insult, we must be
BILE to repel it.; if we desire to secure =
eace, one of the most powerful instru- ,
ients of our rising prosperity, it must ,
q known that we are at all times ready !
Or war a
"ln this passage you have Washing /
on's whole philosophy of peace, war and Q
Nothing truer or wiser
as ever been written, and Washington's n
lords are as true and wise and apple
bic to-day as they were when he uttered ?
hem in 1893. Undoubtedly there have +
cen many changes in the century and i
quarter that has since elapsed Com .
by sea and land have great
: improved, intercourse with foreign n
,untries has increased, international re- +
tions have been multiplied. But hu !
AN nature is substantially unchanged, e.
nd national ambitions and rivalries, I;
,imulated by greater prizes. are more a
tense and perhaps more explosive than +,
'er before. Whatever be the future =
of the human race, we have o
IT yet reached that stage of rational :,
I'd moral development in which justice, n