New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-19
THE PEOPLES COLUMN

so, or so long as a group of right
minded nations compels her to do so.
Quite in line with Germany's other
acts is the slight attention which Eng
lands suggestion Of a naval holiday
received at her hands-a suggestion
which we ourselves heartily welcomed
by resolution Of Congress, and which all
the other great powers were ready TO
discuss as possible entering wedge to
overturn the present senseless system
With such incidents Systematically
disclosing, it was difficult for Germany
to conceal the real object e her enor-
nous military preparations. The Euro
pean world has tossed on a restless pill
low for years because Of Germany, and
that it's fears were not grOundless is
shown by the events of to-day.
Are we not again at turning point
in history? What we have witnessed is
as nothing compared with what is to
come if Germany wins out. And Amer
lea will not only share the added bur-
dens which will be placed on the shout
ders of all nations, but will be open to
the dangers of actual attack by men OF
boundless ambition and inhuman cal
lousness. England is fighting our bat
tie
This aside, what is our duty to out
ragged Belgium?
Before her ruin was there any more
dignifed member Of the society OF ma
tions? None of the conditions Of in
ternal lawlessness, spoliation of foreign
creditors or vicious foreign policy
which ordinarily bring interference IN
the affairs of weak and backward cOun-
tries may be charged to her.
Belgium scrupulously avoided all
initiative in international questions
which might by any possibility be con-
strued as inconsistent with her posi-"
ton as a neutralized state. She was
making her full contribution to prog
ress. The activity Of some Of her
broad-minded citizens had made her y
very centre of international co-opera-
ton second only to Switzerland. Spleen
did traditions of art and industry and
culture are hers. In her beautiful and
we'll ordered cities the spirit Of liberty
had asserted itself from the earliest
times. Her people worked longer hours
than any other people of Europe, and
so faithful was she to her trust that
with her small population of 100000
she stood fifth in the commerce Of the
world
Small states of the mettle Of Belgium
and Switzerland and Holland are per-
forming services of the highest order.
Are we as a great nation TO stand aside
now with folded arms, to say that this
is none of our business and to suffer
one of the finest of them TO be utterly
crushed in an unspeakably cruel and
lawless way and raise no protest?
The principle OF neutrality is based
-, .pt 10 al
quarrels there is a measure of right
and wrong on both sides. Is that true
here? What wrong has Belgium done
TO Germany? What right has Germany
70 crush her? Neutrality is based, fur.
Their, on the idea of self-interest. But
is il to our own interest to let the
spirit of militarism run roughshod DER
the weak and trample in the dust the
practices of peace and the rules of war
alike?
When events like these are crowding,
is no. tho time for indifference and
impartiality past? Do we not owe it
to ourselves, as nation which has
made valuable contributions to inter,
national law and more valuable ones
to international practice, to endeavor
to guard the progress that has been
made? But there is something deeper
than the law of nations that is being
set back by the philosophy Of ruthless
domination which has entered into the
very marrow of the ruling class in Ger.
many namely, the whole body of in
stincts and practices which constitutes
our humanity.
Is it not our duty as an important
member of the family of nations to use
our utmost endeavor TO guard likewise
those elements Of life more sacred and
more valuable than anything material
or intellectual?
| myself am of German extraction,
but l find that national sympathies are