theodore roosevelt-第70章
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ish agitator in relations with the German propagandists； tried to catch Mr。 Wilson in a pro…British snare。 The President replied： 〃 I would feel deeply mortified to have you or anybody like you vote for me。 Since you have access to so many disloyal Americans； and I have not； I will ask you to convey this message to them。〃
The result of the election； which took place on November 5th； hung in suspense for many days。 Then it appeared that Wilson； by capturing thirteen California votes； had won by 277 electoral votes to 254。 for Hughes。 Of the popular vote； Wilson got 9；128；00 and Hughes； 8；536；000。 So the slogan； 〃He kept us out of war；〃 accomplished its purpose。
CHAPTER XXV。 PROMETHEUS UNBOUND
During the winter of 1916…17； Roosevelt never relaxed his criticism of President Wilson's dilatory and evasive policy； or his efforts to arouse the American people to a sense of their duty to civilization。 By this time the President himself felt that it was safe for him to speak up in behalf of Americanism。 The year before； Roosevelt having been assured that it would be dangerous to make American and pro…Ally speeches in the Middle West； went straight to the so…called German cities； and was most enthusiastically received where it had been predicted he would be hooted and even mobbed。 President Wilson ventured to follow him some time later； and suffered no harm。 By the summer of 1916 he became almost reckless； as it seemed； in his utterances。 He said to the graduating cadets at West Point： 〃My conception of America is a conception of infinite dignity； along with quiet； unquestionable power。 I ask you； gentlemen； to join with me in that conception； and let us all in our several spheres be soldiers together to realize it。〃* Once he declared that he too came of fighting blood。 Meanwhile； how ever； the German submarines went on sinking ships； Bernstorff made his frequent calls of studied impudence at the White House； German agents blew up munitions factories and the warehouses where shells were stored before shipment； and the process of spreading Prussian gangrene throughout our country went on unchecked。
* July 14； 1916。
Worse than this； the military situation in Europe was almost disheartening。 Imperial Russia had disappeared and the Germans were preparing to carve up the vast amorphous Russian carcass。 Having driven their way through the Balkans to Constantinople they were on the point of opening their boasted direct route from Berlin to Bagdad。 England； France and Italy began to feel war…weary。 The German submarines threatened to cut off their supplies of food； and unless the Allied countries could be succored they might be starved into making peace。 When they looked across the Atlantic they beheld this mighty Republic leaving them in the lurch； too busy piling up millions of dollars drawn from the Allies in their distress to heed that distress； and drugging their compunctions； if they had any； by saying to themselves that a nation may be 〃too proud to fight；〃 and that they had the best authority for remembering that they must remain 〃neutral even in thought。〃
I need not describe in detail what Roosevelt thought of this。 He himself expressed his scorn for making war by rhetoric。 He knew that a man may boast of coming of fighting blood； and come so late that all the fighting quality in the blood has evaporated。 Could not many of the Pacifists trace back to Revolutionary and to Puritan ancestors； who fought as they prayed； without hesitation or doubt； for the Lord of Hosts？ They could； and their present attitude simply made their shame the greater。 The Colonel had said very early in the conflict： 〃I do not believe that the firm assertion of our rights means war； but in any event； it is well to remember there are things worse than war。〃 In 1917 he declared： 〃For two years after the Lusitania was sunk； we continued to fawn on the blood…stained murderers of our people； we were false to ourselves and we were false to the cause of right and of liberty and democracy through out the world。〃 He kept hammering at our need of preparation。 He told a great audience at Detroit：* 〃We first hysterically announced that we would not prepare because we were afraid that preparation might make us lose our vantage…ground as a peace loving people。 Then we became frightened and announced loudly that we ought to prepare； that the world was on fire； that our national structure was in danger of catching aflame； and that we must immediately make ready。 Then we turned an other somersault and abandoned all talk of preparedness； and we never did anything more than talk。〃
* May 9；1916。
At last； at the beginning of 1917； the German truculence became too great even for President Wilson to palliate。 The Kaiser； whose atrocious submarine policy had already failed； decided that it could be made to succeed by increasing its horror。 He proposed to sink indiscriminately all ships； whether neutral or enemy； but out of his Imperial generosity he would allow the Americans to send one ship a week to Falmouth； England； provided it followed a certain line marked out by him on the chart； flew a certain flag； and was painted a color which he specified。 As late as December 18； 1916； the President had put forth a message only less startling than his 〃too…proud…to…fight〃 dictum； in which he announced that the warring world must plan for a 〃peace without victory〃 if it would hope to end the war at all。 〃Peace without victory〃 would mean； of course； a peace favorable to Germany。 But the Germans； with characteristic stupidity； instead of using even a specious courtesy towards the President who had been long…suffering in their favor； immediately sent out their 〃Once…a…week…to…Falmouth〃 order。 Perhaps they thought that Mr。 Wilson would consent even to that。
President Wilson's friends have assured us that he devotes himself to finding out what the American people wants and then in doing it。 He soon learned what the American people wanted； after it understood the purport of the 〃Once…a…week…to…Falmouth〃 order； and after the interchange of two or three more notes； he broke off relations with Germany on April 6； 1917。 At last； at the eleventh hour； the United States by President Wilson's consent joined the great alliance of free nations in their life and…death struggle to make the world safe for Democracy。 Now the President had to prepare for war； and prepare in haste； which rendered careful plans and economy impossible。 At the start； there was much debate over the employment of Volunteers； the rating of Regulars； and the carrying out of a selective draft。 True to his policy of timidity and evasion President Wilson did not openly declare war on Germany； but allowed us to drift into a state of war； so executives who do not wish either to sign or veto a bill let it become a law without their signatures。 His Secretary of War； Lindley M。 Garrison； the only member of his Cabinet who had marked ability； had resigned the year before； having apparently found the official atmosphere uncongenial。 At the Plattsburg camp； commanded by General Leonard Wood； Colonel Roosevelt made a speech of ringing patriotism and of unveiled criticism of the lack of energy in the Administration。 It was not a politic thing to do； although there seems to have been some confusion between what the Colonel said to the Volunteers in camp； and what he said that same evening to a gathering of civilians in the town。 The indiscretion； how ever； gave the Administration the opportunity it had been waiting for； but； being unable to punish Roosevelt； it severely reprimanded General Wood； who had not been aware of what the Colonel intended to say。 Indeed； the offensive remarks seem to have been extemporaneous； because； as it was too dark for him to read his prepared speech； he spoke impromptu。 In any event； Secretary Garrison had due notice that Roosevelt was to speak； and if he had had any doubts he should have sent word to General Wood to cancel the engagement。 The Administration made as much as it could out of this impropriety； but the public saw the humor of it； because it knew that Secretary Garrison agreed with Roosevelt and Wood in their crusade for preparedness。
Later； when Mr。 Garrison resigned； President
