New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-15
Pitiless Publicity.

whole fabric of Mr.. Wilson's great diplo-
matte triumph over Germany, and makes
plain beyond peradventure the delusion
and the sham Of the foreign policy Of the
United States and the betrayal and sacri-
flee of American lives by politicians who
could utter splendid words, but were in
capable Of even insignificant action.
Looking back now over the recent
months. the most disgraceful and shame
full in American history, it is possible to
grasp the whole sequence of events, TO
understand what some have suspected,
more have feared, but the majority of the
nation is only now beginning to appreciate.
Not only have Americans in peril and in
distress been abandoned, not only has
there been denied to our living protection
and TO our dead the scanty honor of the
murder disavowed, but to the American
people and to the world this course has
been daily heralded forth as the evidence
of courage, wisdom, superior moral and
intellectual elevation.
When Germany proclaimed her subma
rine blockade Mr.. Wilson told the Kaiser's
government that any infraction of inter-
national law by the Germans to the injury
of American citizens would mean that the
offenders would be held to "strict account
ability" Germany replied by sinking the
Lusitania, and Mr.. Wilson met this by a
public speech that country could be "too
proud to fight" This speech preceded the
publication but followed the completion of
the message pledging his country to omit
no word or act to perform its duty to its
children.
To this Germany replied by the bubble
for which it found inspiration in the semi
official statements issued from the State
Department that the Lusitania might have
been armed, suggestions that fell to the
ground on the instant. Our second note
to Germany-the first Lusitania note
had been followed by the assurances given
by Mr.. Bryan, received and believed by
the Austrian Ambassador, that American
messages were but words, meaning moth
irg, but designed to satisfy home pride
and meet the requirements of home
politics.
Then we have third and fourth mes
sage, answered by the Arabic. The Ameri-
can women and children of the Lusitania
had persisted in early May; in September
the American government, In the face OF
new murders, was still writing notes
The victims of the Lusitania had been for
gotten by our State Department and by
the President No response to the last
note concerning their fate had been re-
ceived. or has been received, and the eager
little press agents of Mr.. Wilson are busy
Informing US that Germany cannot be ex-
pected to disavow this act, because of the
Incidental loss of prestige involved
But the sinking of the Arabic raised a
new point. The Wilson administration
was still perfectly satisfied to continue to
talk while the Kaiser's government con-
tinued to murder. It felt that its words,
each of which was measured in American
life. were cheap at that price, and that
pretty phrases, written in blood, not ink,
were all that could be required of it. Such
conviction no longer prevailed in the
nation. From one end TO another there
was at last stirring an indignation the
moral quality of which was lost on pc
litical administration, but the political
possibilities Of which could not be over
looked.
Therefore we have the beginning OF
drastic action, drastic to the point OF talk
;rg Of breaking off relations with Ger
MANY. What then happens? The subma-
rine campaign in British waters has failed
All but a very few Of the German subma-
rines have been sunk or captured. IL Is
plain that there is nothing In the game.
In this situation, the failure being ap-
parent, Germany needs only an excuse TO
abandon IL. Accordingly she presents Mr..
Wilson with supreme moral victory, she
pledges herself 10 sink no more passenger
ships without warning, and she disavows
one relatively insignificant case. The peo-
pie Of Germany, instead Of being told that
Won Tirpitz has failed, are informed that
In Difference TO American wishes Germany
has conceded that Americans shall not be
murdered, and this means that the subma-
rine campaign cannot be continued.
But what are the American people told7
Does any one tell them that, thanks TO
Mr. Wilson's weakness, the Germans have
been able from February TO October TO
pat into operation their submarine cam
paign. imperilling American lives? il was
IA if Mr.. Wilson had tacitly consented that
Germany should have these months to try
her great experiment, with the understand
i,.g that If she failed, if British sea power
u,warted her purposes, then Mr.. Wilson
v4s ~ have thc glory Of moral victory
lwUo1. thrifty limited. with The Lusi
I'll. 10, ara Of ec reckoning.