He disapproved, for instance, President Wilson's speech, made a
day or two after the sinking of the Lusitania in which the
President spoke of a nation being "too proud to fight." Roosevelt
said that a nation which announced itself as too proud to fight
was usually about proud enough to be kicked; and it must be
admitted that the Germans took that view of it, and for a year and
more continued to kick. He did not deem it wise, when President
Wilson informed the Germans, ten days later, that we remembered
the "humane attitude" of their Government "in matters of
international right," for he happened to recall that Belgium was
at that moment red with the blood of its citizens, slain by the
Germans in a sort of warfare that combined highway robbery with
revolting murder. Neither did it seem useful to him to speak about
German influence as always "upon the side of justice and
humanity."
Mr. Roosevelt had always been strong for having the nation ready
for war if war should come. Mr. Wilson first said that persons who
believed this were nervous and excited. Next he joined these
persons himself, so far as words went, and finally he let the
matter drop until we were at war. Mr. Roosevelt believed that when
you once were at war it was a crime to "hit softly." Mr. Wilson
waited until we had been at war a year and over, and then
announced in a speech that he was determined to use force!
Mr.
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