Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-20
POWER OF ruuLIc OPINION,

n seeker after enlightened truth
--ihe phrase "enliEhtened truth u
n,.d adslsedly 20 dream Of the
nroersss Of civilization. OF the moral
mental ana spiritual uplift Of human
ny since the Sapoieonlc wars, and
then awake and read his Newspaper
Of today, would he become cynie ~
an nl,fuist7
with every PAGE black With the
hlackest crime Of history, with hhlf
planet In a raEc 10 esierminnte H.
self. would not the seeker after truth
believe In the TEACHINGS OF eEetiHm
and brute selfishness7
scratch the veneer Of civilization
off. and il man the same as when
Julius CAESAR gave his armies ceeupa-
lion ana reason for existence BY
campaigns Of conquest and personal
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Yet mankind does chnnse. and for
the better. We. have the spectacle Of
Bclxian mission coming to the
United states 10 lay before the pres
ident the story OF alleged Ills suffer-
I'd AZ the hands Of the German in
vsders. Hot more significant than that
wns the telegram OF the emperor OF
Germany TO President Wilson at
tempting to justify the conduct Of his
arn.lsa, Announcement has been made
from cnch Of the national capitals
that the var was not OF The seeking
but forced upon each nation.
These statements are a distinct
recognition Of the power OF public
opinion. The heleians do not expect
the United states 10 intervene In their
behalf. The wnf lord Of Germany has
nothing 10 fear from this country ex-
cept il public opinion. Even 4 cen
tury ago. uhst would any beIIIgerent
have cared for public opinion In any
neutral nation. 80 Ions as there was
F. not The slightest danger Of that M
+ ton breaking its neutfalltyg
because Of The power Of neutral
E public sentiment. the president was
I fully Justified In cabling 10 the off
sial heads Of the nations at war that
Ihe, an the representative Of the peo-
pie Of the United states stood ready
#sgn n spirit Of most earnest friend.
ship to act In the interest OF European
peace. either nov or az any other
time that might be thought more
suitable, 40 IN occasion 20 serve YOU
and an concerned"
When the presidents mcssage TO
the beillgerent powers was first sent.
1hcre were those who were tempted
10 sneer and iaush--just as there are
ahoso who iest az The Hague because
IL failed TO avert The greatest war %
All the ages hui time viii show that
when the graves Of war are filled
their capacity. stricken Enrcpe viii
urn 10 the president OF the United
states as the intermediary for peace.
Ind The Hague Will be the last resort
81 mankind In Europe from polite
II policy In which military schemes
nd achemefs will have failed % aat-
~ the people that pay The bills with
honey and death.
: II Il were true that mankind does
oi change. The neiglans Mould have
nown that II would be futile to send
! commission 10 the United States
hen armed Intervention could not
hoped for and the kaiser would
ave scorncd to lay his side Of the
asc before the president OF this re-
ublic. from whose fleet and meager
rmy there was nothing for him to
enr.
But the Relnians know and the
aiser knows that the crysiaIized
pinlon 81 the world, as finally ex-
ressed IN history for the children Of
ature generations. as 70 the cause Of
I'D responsibility for The war and
BE manner in which u has been con-
acted. will be shaped by the opinions
the people Of the United States.