The Alaska daily empire., 1918-01-17

hand people about from sovereignty to sovereignty, as if they were prop erty (renewed applause). We, too, accept with enthusiasm the doctrine | Of Monroe as the doctrine of the world, that no nation should seek to extend it's policy over any other nation or people, but that every na- tion or people should be left free to determine it's own policy, its own way of development, unhinder- ed, unthreatened, unafraid, the little along with the great and powerful. '' We are happy, to be permitted to share with you the belief that right shall command might, and that it ought not to be dishonored in it's very inception.
 Let mo confess to you, gentlemen, that over there in Europe many people were anxious for months, if not for years, as to the attitude of the United States in this unexam- pied war. But let me add at the same time that l was not of the number. How could a man acquaint- ed with your history imagine for a single moment that this great Ma tion should confine herself to the part of a reserved spectator in the presence of the most tremendous struggle for the highest principles of humanity? How could we believe that you could have been insensible in reading the barbarous and un- precedented ultimatum which the Hapsburg government presented to Serbia and forseeing the unequal struggle between the two countries, of which the one was ten times big ger and stronger than the other, especially as the latter had just passed through two successive wars How could an American citizen re main indifferent to the violation Of Belgian neutrality, excused by the imperial chancellor with the asser- tion that solemn international treat ies are nothing else than simple "scraps of paper?'
 The people who doubted the course you were going to take are excused only by the consideration that they did not know, or rather that they had forgotten, your history.
 My mind had been fixed about this problem from the very first mo ment of the war. But on the tragic day when our old King and his heroic son, our almost dying Voivod Putnik, and our last soldier, hunger ! ing and freezing, quite exhausted, left the Albanian coast taking with | them nothing save our national flag and our honor enveloped in it tap
 plause), remained for hours and hours deploring our unmerited mis- fortune and defending myself against despair, and, glancing at the map in
 my mind, I reviewed countries and
 nations. And looking across the
 Atlantic I saw your ancestors sail ! ing over the "seas Of darkness
 after having left forever in their
 native countries all that was dear
 to them, and going to this unknown
 continent without any fear unaware
 of the trials and troubles awaiting
 them here, scorning the risks and
 dangers, determined to nght With
 savages, with beasts, and With the
 elements. For what reason? Be
 cause they were not willing to en
 dure autocracy and capriciousness
 in their native countries. and be
 cause they were ready and capa ble to found new human societies
 where political, religions. and mora
 liberty would be the same for all land where law and right would
 command instead of tyranny and ca
 price. I have followed their genera
 tions, extending civilization ovel the mountains. over the woods ant