Show address to citizens of the country wants to preserve peace toy preparing for war foreign NEW YORK dec 17 the patriotic league of america which has just been organized in this city has issued the following address to the people of the united states the closing years of the nineteenth century are being marked by many hopeful indications of a revival of ken nine american feeling the organization activity of the society of the sons of the revolution the sons of colonial wars and similar societies have given most worthy and efficient service in admonishing moni shing the dominating tendency of tae commercial spirit and rekindling the sentiment of patriotism not only among the people of this republic but of the entire american continent but the membership of these organ lations being restricted to the people f particular classes must of necessity je limited the exigencies of ane pres nt demand the strenuous and unselfish portions of a society as broad as the continent and with its doors wide open to all patriotic americans without respect to race nationality or religion A brief reference to lecent events and present conditions give emphatic in to this demand of recent events mention need not be made af the incident of the new massacre with thelex on american diplomacy to avoid a conflict with italy the committed by england on nicaragua in the corinto affair which roused the indignation and called for the protest of the american people and the war clouds which less ihan abear ago rose so threateningly over the venezuelan question and were cleared away only by the firm persistent maintenance of the monroe doctrine of present conditions ane cuban question is daily resuming more threatening aspects the cause of her patriotic citizens struggling through carnage and conflagration in the unalterable determination to break their yoke of bondage or perish to the last man battling to earn for them delves and their posterity the liberty our example has taught them to covet appeals most powerfully and pathetically to the american sense of justice and fair play and cannot much longer appeal in vain the dictates of humanity and conr own baat interest in cuba demand that tia t ia shall extend to that oppressed and ill governed island the protection of the eagle and the shield and command that this inhuman war ot butchery spoliation and destruction shall stop and cuba be left free to cultivate the arts ol 01 peace and develop tier resources under a government of her own and creation the attitude of the british government furnishes another of the present conditions which americans cannot contemplate with indifference sha has established six powerful naval stations in threatening proximity to our eastern coast she has built others at vancouver quebec st johns kingston and the niagara river these fortifications could not have been designed for defense against any european power they are a standing menace to this and no agreement lor the establishment of a permanent court of arbitration should eyer ba ratified except on the condition that all her maritime south of halifax and those along the southern border of canada shall first be diaman tied and destroyed another condition that appeals with irresistible force to the american patriotism is the fact that the american citizens in foreign lands haye been compelled to euffer the hum of ap paaline to british and other alien aub for protection against threatened v lo lence as their own legation was either too weak or too cowardly to protect them during the massacre at van our countrymen were compelled to seek the protection of the british consul who to their safety hoisted the union jact above the american mission the ilva and stripes inspiring neither ie nor fear only the unceasing exertions of sir phillip curry the british ambassador at constantinople saya the gazette have enabled the american missionaries in the ottoman empire to pursue their labors of mercy unmolested ahe well known policy of this government to keep at peace with all the world as long as peace can be preserved without loa of honor will be tho policy of the ie autt but it will insist that the oi securing peace is to be found uhe moat ample provisions for the both by sea or land in a liberal policy towards the army and navy in such an adjustment of banfi aa will furnish ample revenue to meet all the expenses of the government and encourage domestic industry by protecting our markets against ruinous competition from abroad while the policy of the league will be pacific and conservative its influence will be exerted to complete the nicaraguan canal with american capital and retain it under american control to extend the boundaries of the republic to embrace adjacent adia cent territory the hawaiian islands and the islands proximate to our coast whenever the people of those countries shall voluntarily seel incorporation with the union restore our merchant marine to more than its ancient prestige and ma ke the flag of the republic respected in every quarter of the globe |