OCR Text |
Show K , -'.5 J iHCT LINE FROM By Kurt Nutting view and who try to impose it on the nation by mounting demonstrations in the streets. If a vocal minority, however fervent its cause, prevails over reason and the will of the majority, this nation has no future as a free society. So tonight, to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans, I ask for your support. Let us be united for peace. Let us also be united against defeat. Because let us understand Great Britain cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that. I pledge to you tonight that I shall meet this responsibility with all of the strength and wisdom I can command, in accordance with your hopes, mindful of your concerns, sustained by your prayers. And I ask for your support for our brave men fighting tonight halfway around the world not for territory not for glory but so that their younger brothers and their sons and your sons can have a chance to grow up in a world of peace and freedom arid justice. Thank you and good night. forces are camped in our nation's capital, burning our seat of government, and looting my wife's linen closets in the Executive Mansion, would be an unpardonable act of irresponsibility irrespon-sibility by a Great Power." Then how will America win the peace? I am proposing to you tonight a two-track program designed to achieve the just and lasting peace desired by all Americans, whether Democratic-Republicans Democratic-Republicans or Federalists. Under the first track we will progressively shift the burden of fighting from American boys to Canadian boys. Instead of Americanizing the war, this administration pledges to Canadianize the peace. Under the second track, while I speak to you this evening, American forces are attacking the headquarters for the entire imperialist operation in North America. This key control center is located in the British Admiralty Building in the English city of London (points to map). This is not an invasion of Britain, it is merely a protective-reaction incursion. The areas in which these attacks will be launched are completely occupied and controlled con-trolled by Royal forces. Our purpose is not to occupy the areas. ar-eas. These actions are in no way directed to the security interests of any nation. But we will not be humiliated; we will not be defeated; we will not allow American men by the thousands to be killed by an enemy from privileged sanctuaries. If, when the chips are down, North America's most powerful nation, the United States of America, acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will 3ood evening, my fellow mericans. Tonight I want to talk I o you on a subject of deep " loncern to all Americans and to 'nany people in all parts of the vorld our war with Great dailritain, so-called the "War of w 1-812." i ou may well ask: How did .merica ever become involved in ajriis war? I'm glad you asked me lat question. An imperialist ation, Great Britain, was ict ;opping and seizing American ct essels on the high seas, in iolation of international law, ou: hile continuing on a reckless pa.Dlicy of worldwide domination, le was holding in captive irvitude our brothers to the orth, the great people of British "l brth America. Faced with Mtntinual threats to our national ide, our national sovereignity, id even our national existence, e United States was forced into war we did not seek. lis war has led to great divisions nong the American people. ' there were some who urged that I to- d the war at once by ordering ell-e immediate withdrawal of all pofnerican forces from Canada, mioom a political standpoint, this uld have been a popular and sy course to follow. But I had a e't;ater obligation than to think eP ly of my party's future I had think of the effect of my no'cision on the next generation, ial d on the future of peace and ecedom in America, and in the aocirld. lei: we precipitately withdrew all 8fr forces from Canada, and . pwed the British Army to use 'adian territory as a privileged "ictuary-this, in turn, would '"ultin bloodshed and slaughter, !Jt'J even defeat, for the United tes. threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world. It is not our power, but our will and character that is being tested tonight. Of course, others are saying tonight that this move against the enemy sanctuaries will make me only a two-term President and end the so-called Virginia Dynasty. It is tempting to take the easy political path: To blame this war on my predecessor, Mr. Jefferson, .on previous administrations, ad-ministrations, and end the war quickly. But peace at any price now, a peace of humiliation for the United States, would lead to a bigger war or surrender later. But let me make one thing perfectly clear I would be untrue to my oath of office as President to be dictated by a minority who hold one point of mat: the United States of America ii first defeat in our nation's idfud thirty-eight-year history EfiLild result in a collapse of residence In American p-dership not only in North ,etenca but around the world, her " vvould lose our greatness; we ji-ild become a second-rate ioter. Our defeat and ,tf, nil jation in Canada, without co!:!stion, would promote f:lessness in the councils of e great powers who have not abandoned their goals of !d conquest. K?V patriotic and loyal nigricans have told me: "Mr. erf ident, why don't you agree to eltxis negotiations at the Ghent :e Talks?" My answer to them, P is to you tonight, is simply : 'Such action, while enemy |