New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-28
OUR NEUTRALITY MADNESS
How Shall 1t Prevail Against an
Avalanche?
To the Editor Of Tho Tribune

J" me fdtor or The Tribune
Sir: Has the United States no greater
duty 20 civilization than tho protection Of it,
citizens in this world war? The Presidents
attest message TO Germany assumes that we
are justified IN remaining neutral If Ger
many yields to its demands. In taking this
attitude The President does not rise 20 full
realization Of the crisis. In former uoto
he stated with perfect clearness that the
Germany government would be held 20 "strict
accountability" for the acts which. tecdIcs
OF the protest, IT went on 20 commit Dis
avowal, reparation and future abstcntion are
in no sense strict accountability. and these
ARE tho conditions imposed on Germany b.
The Rtest administration message. Death
cannot be repaired. The declaration Of stern
accountability was made in order 90 save
Americans from being cut of by unnecessary
death and to ward of the grief that now
rests like pail on many innocent American
families. II failed The Kaiser shot h'.
torpedo as deliberately as II the warning had
not been uttered. What can repair the loss
and sorrow caused? Exactiue disnvowal is
attempting TO impose upon Germany the
necessity Of telling what al the world would
know to be lie. It is plain that the Presi-
dent has lodged the consequences OF his
earlier note. Germanys murder Of American
children. women and men required a. least
complete severance of all relations by
America.
But, certain as this duty u.s. there are far
more momentous reasons for decisive stand
against Germany. These reasons are dis
closed by the following questions which M
intelligent person in this country has any
right longer to evade:
/. What will happen TO America II Ger
many wins? .. What will happen TO civil
cation and free institutions throughout the
world? Americans arc but just beginning 70
realize that civilization never before faced
such a crisis as German military ambition
has brought down, and yet they seem 70 fee,
that they are unconcerned outsiders with no
duty TO see that civilization Is not lost
But the problem comes directly home. Can
we not see that the Prussians military dom
ination Of the world includes us? Germany
planned by this war 20 master FUropo; d
successful her power and resources will in
crease tcnfold; viii not the same deadly
ambition then drive her on 20 American
and world conquest? Not for n single JIM
slant can any one who has seriously fol-
lowed the course Of German thought doub.
this.
Granting It, the American state Of mind is
like that Of children playing in the path Of
an avalanche That. too, is the President,
state Of mind. We declare ourselves neutra.
toward the avalanche. We study its approach
scientifically. We criticse its method Of APP
proach. and blow paper balls AT it 60 change
IT. course That It will infallibly override and
crush US if II breaks down the none too
strong European obstacles We are deter
mined not 90 see. Why? Are We insult
fctcnDy trained in foresight? Is It because
.ho realization Of our danger would be- DIS
agreeable? Have we grown too kind-hearted
or TOO businesslke to resist an avalanche
bent on orr destruction? We have not much
more time 10 decide.
r. Germany brushes all that is free in
rrrorc. while we continue vir'uously passive
and neutral our fate viii be 20 sink into
Gcrmany's vassal The Atlantic Ocean is
now only a lake; military and naval science
are only I'm their beginning; they viii be ser
rroc 70 develop If Germany becomes supreme
in Furopc. and their exercise upon va viii
be- inevitable. Our neutrality is, therefore.
.,od,ose MORRISON !. SWIFT
Boston. May q. 1915.