The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-19
The Sentiment OF America.

Tho formal attitude Of the Governner,
however, is one thing; that OF the Ana
can masses Is another. II hardly net1e
the extracts which we have publs.t
from the New York papers. or Admin
Mahan's outspoken comments on the IT,
sues involved, or the enthusiasm q q,
many thousands OF Americans In l,Jniat
who have borne the d!scomforts Of ths'|
pltsht with such admirable spirit and gct.
humor to assure us that In this strugg.
the sentiments OF the American people a.
overwhelmingly on our side They haze
been quick to see that this IS VIZ
fastened upon Europe by the arr0s4'
ambitions of one Power. tina. G,a
Britain went to the uttermost lengths ?
persuasion In order To avert IL and nj
In entering upon II We have acted ullr
the compulsion OF Irresistible obllgpft
OF honor and duty as well a. o. s-lf,'.
terest The events of the past tortu.t'
have for the first time revealed To Amr-
can eyes the true character of the G,..
man dominant caste. its idolatrv o.. f0rc
Its medi@val disregard for treaties pledge
and the rights of weaker ne.ga5ifs;
and the spectacle has revolted them Thy
perceive that In this contest, while G. :
many is fighting for dominion We y
hghting FOR life, and that, while Ger
many has engineered a vast European !.
heaval, We have been Struggling % md n
tain the status quo. The Infamous n '
posal' with which the Wilhelms,rDs
sought to purchase British neutrality
the expense OF France has amazed a..
disguised Americans, as II has auals
ana disSusted us. by its unique Ui'rzv
| or meanness and stupidity. W. taiak ",
may add that not only the conduct % ol'
diplomacy but the cool aud efficient stead
tastness with which the British people az
racing one of the most searching crs.
In their history have moved Amer-l
onlookers TO something more inn r.
spect.
But, beyond all this, the Americans a,
suddenly realizing that this IS not 4
merely European issue of no moment %
themselves. The isolation which has h's'
erto been their normal lot makes n O'
| tremely difficult for them 10 conceive I
| direct connection between their own VEL
fare and policies and tho up,hot ~ I
struggle between European Power, 'i
will be decided several thousand miles
from American territory. Bur 800 ne
present case and with such enormous
stakes on the table. indifference and Inn
munlty are alike impossible Amer 80
are beginning TO ask themselves Question
and TO ponder consideration that un ''
| now have had for them hardly c'e' -
| academic interest. They are asN"g them
selves, for instance, whether. next 10 ~
security and well being Of their o''
country, they have any greater or H't
| obvious interest than that the B'iH
Empire should be preserved on rs preseN
footing, II IL dawning on them that lnc
have never Yet conceived tNemseN'
menaced by British command ot Nh, q
and that they might not be equally %'s
Ned II Germany were 20 occupy iAt Pr
sition 80 long and with such general AZ
ceptance held by us.
Americans Doubt GermnDy,
They have long since acquitted 'i''b
Britain of any designs upon the NOT
| Doctrine They are not 80 sue t.t VT
could return an equally favorable 'rI-
In the case OF Germany. They N'
awakened to the fact that American ''-
merce and power are inrXirIcth.' '"
mingled with those Of Great l'iii
that the downfall OF the British n.uf'
which would be the iueNIt..r
quence OF the destruction Of irt'.
power. would paralyze every luf' ''.
commercial interest in the iu'''
for at least "A couple OF decade
are not convinced that thr o''"'
Germany would have any such % .'.
and reverberant results. They %
ering that in the scale OF Ame'..'s p"
terial interests Great Britain '..
Germany and that In the scale '' '
cas- moral interests the same ''a''
reached. They find themselves %
sympathy with the British than "..
German form of civilization auI '
eminent; with British rather
German ideas and ethical prlnc.I.'
our spirit and genius rather 'A" ".
those of our antagonist Ih,N
long ago and An our favor the l1.,
whether II is Great Britain OF ''' u ,.s
that Is the more aggressive, ''
hungry for fresh territory ~ /,
centre of international disturn'n.'
; unrest What they are now bes.''" ..',',.
appreciate Is that the rise o. ,
to the power and influence hlNt'
joyed by us would be deNe.ol. ,-
imical to American interests ln r,.l
bean, In South America and IN l,,I.as,
and a menace to the position ana "a,
of the United states MS "o' we
II may even he that, to gredt'.
than they yet imagine, Their Gtc
depends on the ultimate victory OF
BRIT ain and her frisndR