New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-08

thought, but to give our full sympathy TO
Greece struggling for freedom in 1923. Blu
when the essence of that democracy upon
which our nation has been founded was
being attacked when dynastic autocracy was
sought to be imposed upon the world, when
innocent Belgium was being devastated, whe Q
women by hundreds were being ravished and
civilians by thousands were being murdered,
when the appalling doctrine of frightfulness
was being instituted and war made doubly
hideous, Mr.. Wilson begs US to be neutral IN
thought. 1t were better that our people
should have persisted from off the earth than
that we should have needed this infamous
advice.
Nor was there any internal danger to the
nation TO be avoided by cowardly persona
neutrality. The pro-Germsn sentiment which
has arisen in a small fraction of our popula
ton of German origin has resulted sole. y
from the failure Of Mr.. Wilson to max
clear from the beginning the difference IN
ideals between American democracy and Ger
man junkerism. The existing cancer of n
hyphenate in our land, a cancer sedulously
7ourished by Prussian emissaries, is due en-
tirely to Mr.. Wilson's attitude. The truth
of this statement is clearly shown by tn e
fact that in Canada, where the proportion of
inhabitants of German birth or parentage is
even greater than in the United States, there
is no pro-Germanism. The difference in the
ideals Of Germany and America has been
made as clear to them as to the expatriates
of ls4S, and from many of the Canadian
communities of German immigrants the en-
listment and support OF the British cause
have been as great as from the Anglo-Saxon
communities. Mr.. Wilson's course in this
matter not only has not served mankind, but
has been directly the cause of the failure o.
the United States to show itself homogene-
Gus. He has torn his own country asunder
when more than ever we needed untedness.
The partial success Of the unofficial war
which Germany is waging upon US in fomont-
ing strikes, burning our factories and blow
ing up our legitimate industries Is entirely
attributable to Mr.. Wilson.
The Hague conventions contemplated the
imposition of a duty upon the signatories.
and the United States intended to assume
this duty. It is therefore supremely unim-
portant whether II can be shown that condi-
tions such as the failure of certain belliger.
ents to adhere to the conventions make a
technical avoidance of this obligation ten
able The spirit of these conventions. which
is the spirit Of civilization, demanded action
by US, action that clearly need not have
been military intervention, but just as clear
" should have been an earnest protest
against the fragrant violation Of these conven-
tions. This duty Mr.. Wilson entirely failed
TO perform.
Had this protest, which our honor and our
obligation ito serve manEind" demanded
been duly made, its effect would have been Of
ncalcuable value. Il would have consoli-
dated the opinion of the neutral nations and
brought them to a realization Of their own
duties While perhaps it would have been too
late TO prevent the violation OF Belgium, it
would undoubtedly have prevented most of
the horrors which took place not only there
but in other conquered territory, in Serbia
and in Poland. 1t would have prevented the
institution of the doctrine OF frightfulress,
which Germany adopted step by step when
each successive fagrancy failed to elicit the
storm of protest which il merited. Ii would
have forced the whole neutral world, which
had it's gaze fixed upon the United States,
to an immediate recognition of the rights and
wrongs of the conflict. II would have made
il evident that the ultimate defeat OF the
German cause inevitable and would
have made impossible the entrance into the
war on the side OF Germany OF any other ma
tons II would have concentrated the whole
force OF world opinion against Germany and
made II necessary that the war should have
been ended in the winter OF l9l4I5.
Instead Of protest against Germany, Mr..
Wilson's first protest in December. 1914. was
against Great Britain, and was based wholly
upon financial considerations. American
trade had already begun to gain huge profits
from huge sales at huge prices 10 the En-
tente nations; Mr.. Wilson's note showed that
he was prepared to aid In getting other