e of three
things that righteousness demanded that the United States forsake its
supine neutrality and act; that the United States should prepare itself
thoroughly for any emergency that might arise; and that the hyphenated
Americanism of those who, while enjoying the benefits of American
citizenship, "intrigue and conspire against the United States, and do
their utmost to promote the success of Germany and to weaken the
defense of this nation" should be rigorously curbed. The sermons that he
preached on this triple theme were sorely needed. No leadership in
this phase of national life was forthcoming from the quarter where the
American people had every right to look for leadership. The White House
had its face set in the opposite direction.

In August, 1915, an incident occurred which set the contrast between
the Rooseveltian and Wilsonian lines of thought in bold relief. Largely
through the initiative of General Leonard Wood there had been organized
at Plattsburg, New York, an officers' training camp where American
business men were given an all too brief course of training in the art
and duty of leading soldiers in camp and in the field. General Wood was
in command of the Plattsburg camp. He invited Roosevelt to address the
men in training. Roosevelt accepted gladly, and in the course of his
speech made these significant statements:

"For thirteen months America has played an ignoble part among the
nations. We have tamely submitted to seeing the weak, whom we have
covenanted to protect, wronged. We have seen our men, women, and
children murdered on the high seas without protest. We have used
elocution as a substitute for action.

"During this time our government has not taken the smallest step in the
way of preparedness to defend our own rights. Yet these thirteen months
have made evident the lamentable fact that force is more dominant now
in the affairs of the world than ever before, that the most powerful of
modern military nations is utterly brutal and ruthless in its disregard
of international morality, and that righteousness divorced from force is
utterly futile. Reliance upon high sounding words, unbacked by deeds, is
proof of a mind that dwells only in the realm of shadow and of sham.

"It is not a lofty thing, on the contrary, it is an evil thing, to
practise a timid and selfish neutrality between right and wrong. It is
wrong for an individual. It is still more wrong for a nation.

"Therefore, friends, l