Page:Bohemia's claim to independence.djvu/11

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As long as a single nation anywhere remains under the heel of the conqueror, just so long the peace of the world is insecure. In one of his recent speeches, the President of the United States spoke of the dangers infinite and constant which surround this country. The days of isolation and self-sufficiency of any country are gone. A conflagration started in the Balkans may cause a war that would spread throughout the world. The neutral powers have a right to protect themselves against such danger. If our neighbor’s house does not answer the requirements of the fire ordinance, we have the right to demand that he conform to such requirements so that at some future time our own house may not be set afire. The analogy holds true today in international relations.

During the Kossuth visit to this country, more than fifty years ago, Daniel Webster concluded one of his most remarkable orations with the following sentiment: “Hungarian independence, Hungarian control of her own destinies, and Hungary as a distinct nationality among the nations of Europe.” It is regrettable that the Magyars, since gaining complete autonomy for themselves, themselves turned oppressors of Slav nationalities, but this does not change the applicability of the sentiment expressed by Daniel Webster, and does not mean the same

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