New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-21
A WOFUL PROPHECY
It Finds Us, Like Rome, Ready to
Decline and Fall.

To 'be Editor of The Tribune
Sir: How short has been our national ltd
In comprehensive histories Of five huntHd
years hence the entire story Of the Uniut
States Of America probably will be tod n
one page. thousand years from now part
OF one sentence may cover IL.
We are a nation of four-fushers-selfih,
rampered and unbusinesslike. I am not call.
ing names because ] include myself IN the
term. Major General Wood, in his prophetic
speech to the businessmen soldiers, was
wasting breath. Colonel Roosevelt and Others
are continually wasting breath. A few far
sighted men cannot bring TO consciousness
i huge mass Of deliberately irresponsible
shirkers. Thus far we have been saved oy
a series Of miracles. But miracles cannot en-
dure In popular language, I'VE are gong %
get ours, and get it good" Il takes no SUPER
human Imagination TO see ourselves vas
sal nation. And it may be good thing
NAV bring out our wonderful possibilities 4"
their fullest realization-for somebody else'
Az an advisory member Of the American
Legion | have done considerable enfolnS
work for that body, whose aim is simply
gain the cooperation Of thousands OF men
whose qualifications would make them 'A'1'
able to the government in time OF emetgeN'"
Before undertaking the work ] kne" '''!
little about the American attitude to""'
military affairs. After interviewing various
organizations and several hundred indTl'-.
ais it was amazing to find the popularity g
the sentiment: "If we have war I'm gong "
get as far away from II as possible nav
heard that expression at least hUA1''
times from shameless athletic young men -
the highest social standing 20 laoorerS' '"'
sentiment, according 70 my experience
most prevalent among the working C'1'"
Union officers have told me: Make your "
marks as light as possible, because these n'"
belong to the American Federation Of L"o0'
which is against all miitarIsm.' mus u0''
the American working man reward the 'Ou"-
try which has protected him and made n.'H
the freest and richest working man IN wv
world.
The letters from Norman Taicott and o,H'
ers Of his ilk are typically American L'''-
long habits of American thought ~ you Go"
call it thought have produced their eHs.-
At best, they see in the present topic not 'l'
saving of the nation for our own enloynen.
Of freedom and progress, but the purely 'O','
question Of Colonel Rooseyelt's lor any O"s'
else) political ambition.
In this great country Of free Speech m0'
rule, unbridled press and complaisanee ~.
ard every kind Of graft, how the natlona' y
ficiency would be hampered By politics n
case of war! Has it not always been 80
The Roman Empires fall was attrioa'So,'
to several causes, most important Of WIZ
were, first, the failing energy Of me NO'N'
PEOPLE; second, the gradual aosorp"o"
thousands Of people from the German p'..'
who lent ready assistance 10 Alarie anu %.
tordes when they made their sueeess'u, -
vasion. Both conditions are ours. we NJ.
no legions 70 defend Us as Rome hau' -.
are infinitely more unprepared than was -
land last August We have no friends S"'"'
the nations but China and Belgium. "a,
The lovely pipe dream Of universal pee,
has vanished. II is being illustrated, a. i
yore. that nation can live only -,
its ability 20 fight, and 10 be aDle "
in these days means long preparation ~,
II we have war we shall be a most pi''''i.
beaten people. 1t might be Germany 20
might be the fully modified and reaay 'al 10y,
backed by England Or it might DC .,h
enemy as yet unforeseen. However 1T
the American character abhors the vHV al
of war. we must get ready for 1t TO vac or
limit Of our ability in order 20 aver l,s,
suffer the consequences. When war snA.
come TO US in our present condition Vut -,
sequent happiness will depend entre. -,
the generosity of the conquerors OF th'
slothful, mercenary, vain, ehildlike na}01
GEORGE W. SUTTo il ,
New. Rockville, y. Y, Aug. u, III =