The Washington herald., 1914-08-28
CANNES.



1t is certain that the good will Of America is be-
ing highly priced by the warning nations. In all the
history of the world so great compliment never
paid before to any nation 1t is in fact the as
the appeal to the verdict Of history itself 1t is not
unlike the appeal that we ourselves made in the
initial sentence of the Decla7ton Of independence,
"a decent regard for the opinions Of mankind
Let us therefore show ourselves worthy by pre-
serving calm and judicial frame of mind At FIRST,
smartng under the of indignant protest against
50 gigantic assault upon human progress, we have
perhaps too freely spoken our blame upon auto
cratic government. We had best now not continue
to criticse since such political criticism for the hour
is perfectly powerless.
We may not know all the causes Of the-war as
well as we thought did At all events we can i'll
afford to increase danger and add to the worlds
stock of i'll will and evaporation.
The conglomerate character of our American
lineage should warn us how readily the transatlantic
hatreds be lighted up in the midst of us. 1t is a
time for kind words for all by this nation, grown
great by the blood of all Tears would better become
us than sneers. We are not ourselves of spotless
history. We, who could and should have avoided
the war between the States certainly have shown
republic to be immune from malevolent strife upon
unworthy provocation.
All war is the confession of human weakness.
English, French Teuton, or Slav human nature is
essentially identical Against the treason of moral
weakness has never yet shown himself pro-
tected under any sky We the sovereign people, of
this republic are much like other sovereigns 1t was
only yesterday that we were in danger of grave
domestic dscord by the jealousy and pride that con-
tend over great riches possessed by among us.
The becoming attitude of this ruling people I'M
81
friendship for any government that could safely
pass some crisis. And prayerful gratitude that we
the rulers of this country have thus far, been of
late able to safely pass such crises.
1t has been said by the cynic that there is always
something pleasing in hearing of the calamity tina.
befaIls the other man. 1t is the shame of human
nature that such does seem be the fact But only
for the moment in the mind of the cultured and
morally controlled man.
Aside from how America shah fare whether
profted or injured we are as a nation, profoundly
sorrowful for our race.
The sublimest possibilities are even now in sight
The proffer of mediation by President has been
heard above all the din OF war That peaceful miss
i've has not yet brought forth its result But the
grandest pote2tiaities in its simple lines. Not
because it the profer of an American President
but because it the word of the one powerful
nation in no way involved in the strife. Is it not
destiny? Shall not, to a man, so guard our
tongues that we shall still be seen standing there
calm, judicial, humane? May we not believe that
for this very hour we have been raised up a power
in the earth?
To be great-hearted toward these warning En-
ropean states would surely be their exhortaton For
the moment it would seem that the world has made
little progress from .savagery. But other date
of the worlds history was there ever such rational
hope that moral forces would soon bring the tragedy
to halt. And the hope centers in the attitude Of
this great nation, to whom alone all the combatants
may appeal.