Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-15
TO high heaven that there is peace
when there is no peace.

%1en tHeYe Is no ptdtc.
For man. months our govern
ment has preserved between right and
wrong a neutrality which would have
excited the tremulous admiration Of
! Pontius Pilate-the arch-typicai neu-
trail Of all times
Theodore Roosevelt. 10 his lasting
honor be il said. vas right, and had
! his voice prevailed and had the coun-
try earlier shaken off its letharGy mill
lions Of lives and countless treasure
! might have been spared. Better late
than never but it is costly to be late.
"Of inestimahie value to his coun-
try had been his service in Office, but
nova private citizen-he was to
perform an even greater service. To
D hesi.ant administration, and to
people lulled into false security and
, lending ear to an unworthy pacifism,
he preached the gospel OF prepared
ness. Throughout the country Jour
neyed this courageous apostle of right
thinking. having no credentials bu.
those Of his own conscience aad pa
:r;o;isnl. and by his pitiless inveotive
he literally compelled action.
Back Of all that was done was the
prersure of the demand Of Roosevelt.
For eighteen months said he IN the
early part Of 1915, with this world
cyclone before our eyes, We as q ra
ton have sat supine without prerar-
ing IN any shape or way. II is an ac-
tuaI fact that there has not been ore
soldier. one rife. one gun, one boat
added 10 the American ar'nT or navy
50 far, iccause Of anything tina. has
occurred II this war, and not the
slightest step has yet been taken
looking to the necessary prepared
ness. SUCH national short sighted
ness, such national folly, is almost
+ inconceivable.'
Toward the close Of his address NJ.
! Hughes declared Colonel Roosevelt
the greatest hero Of the war. He
said:
BIT if he could not tigh. for liberty
and humanity on the western front,
nc could fight with pen and voice at
y n - fTS-
With increasing vigor he demanded
adequate forces, adequate equipment.
speed and efficiency. HIS lash knew
no mercy. but it was a necessary lash.
Az it vas. we were just in time. How
late we should have been had II not
been for Roosevelt Cod only knows.
But who can doubt the value Of the
service of that insis,ent demand in
making it possible that we should ar
rive o: the front, in force. in time to
failure? He Guickened the national
consciousness; he Developed the sense
= VA GIiL "44tii t1ir tCAHL.s
aHoke he was the natura! lea der Of an
aroused America. His priceless
service al home mad all the world
his debtor.
: IF America by its aid at the critica,
I moment made victory possible, It was
the spur IF Roosevelt that assured
that aid, and while VIC acclaim the
! splendid service of officers and mon
! the pride of our army and navy, ana
of the host Of willing workers, and
are gratified at the vast achievements
} Of the nation, let it not he forgotten
+ that yonder in his last resting place
! in Oyster Bay lies our greatest hero
, Of the war. He incarnated the spirit
/ Of Am erica, and when he PISSED away
and controversy was no more and
enemies were silcnced the country
with one voice paid it's tribute to &c
! patriot who, without Office or commits
! sion, had supplied the leadership
! which had not faltered or erred. and
! had fought 20 maintain the nations
! honor