Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-08

raise Westerly's full quota from the sale of third Liberty Loan bonds open ed fire in the Town hall, Saturday night, following street parade in which the Westerly Constabulary and Boy Scouts participated. The hall was filled. James M. Pendleton pre- sided The principal speaker was Ed win F. Sweet, assistant secretary of commerce and labor, who said in his address:
 "The conflict between the ideas of domination and freedom has been waged in almost every civilized coun- try. It was waged in England and freedom won. It was waged in France and in Italy. with, the same result. In Germany, too, the battle between free dom and unrestrained power was fought and the latter prevailed.
 Now, for the first time in more than a century, this irrcpressible con- f1ict of ideas has assumed interna- tional proportions. The lust of power is never satisfied. Nationwide domi- nance was not enough. It must be worldwide. Its appetite is unsuitable. The Potsdam party of Prussia. some-- times called the milftaristS, poisoned the German mind. The arrogance and egotism which accompany unrestrain- ed power infected the nation, and so it is that this idea of world domina ton has been fostered and has grown until the day. long looked for, came and the inevitable conflict began.
 "The task we have undertaken in this war is stupendcus. In it's mag nitude and difficulties it is appalling. The strong points of our enemy are: First, thorough preparation; second, a high degree of development in science, physics and chemistry. all Of which are important in modern warfare; third, complete organization--not only in it's trained military forces-but in the industries which feed and clothe and equip them; fourth, sllilful and experienced leadership: fiftb an army of spies and propagandists scattered all over the world, and especially in our own country, insidiously alert in every project that can harm our cause, poisoning the food of our soldiers in i training camps, seeking to destroy our ammunition factories, starting fires in cur shipyards and, worst of all poi soning the minds Of our people with crafty insinuations of class injustice and with adroit but poorly concealed | efforts to beguile them as they did i the Russians with false hopes of peace: and. finally, our enemy has the submarine and the will to use it ruth 1 lessly in the destruction Of the world s commerce, reverting If they succeed, to the ages when no ships sailed the seas.
 "An analysis Of the weaknesses of our enemy discloses that her diplo- macy was unable to prevent the en- trance into the war of England, Italy and the United States. Its secrecy has not been we'll maintained and un- necessary offence has been given to | neutral nations. Its terrorizing poll icy has woefully miscarried. The ef- 1 feet upon the world has been precise iy the reverse of that intended Il has caused Germany to be regarded as an outlaw and has brought discredit upon the German name everywhere The murder of non combatants, either on the high seas or by dropping bombs upon the cities of England and France I has done much to encourage enlist ment and to stir up, war-like spirit among the allies
 "Let us with equal candor analyze i cur own situation. We are a peace l peaceful production. We are inven- tive and resourceful We are strong | in industrial organization but inex- perienced in military organization up on a large scale, though our progress in adapting our productive powers tc the needs of war has been all we haG
 a right to expect
 "Our later entrance into the war i.
 both a liability and an asset. I matches our inexperience against tho
 superior training of veteran troops
 On the other hand, we come in a {
 time when our enemies have suffered
 heavily from the loss of their braves
 soldiers. This emphasizes our super
 iority in personnel and in everythins
 but team work and experience, whicl
 we shall acquire.
 ''We have a great asset in the co
 operation of the now well trained forces of England, France and Italy but our greatest asset is in the right eousness of our cause. On the mora side we are as strong as our enemy , , weak.
 "We are in this war and it is to
 late. to consider arguments for keep
 ing out of it. We are in it ana it i too early to consider compromise 1 With greater unan1m1ty than in an : Of our previous wars the people c
 the United States feel that. with in
 finite patience and forbearance O.
 their part the war was forced upo
 them. They feel mfaltering conf
 dence in the justice of their cause
 Having put their hand to the plov
 there is no turning back. There is n middle ground. We must conquer c be conquered. We have measured tn strength of our adversary; we kno' we can afford no handicaps. Traitor even those disguised traitors who con