New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-12
WORKING UNDER ARMS
This Countrys Reversion to the
Conditions Confronting Our
Remote Ancestors.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: It seems TO me that, as a people, we
are fast reverting to type. The early settlers
Of our country went about their work armed;
they titled the soil, felled the forest, one
eye on the work in hand. one eye on watch
for lurking sayages. To-day most Of our
manufacturing plants must be surrounded by
an armed guard the guard carries guns 70
hunt off skulking Germans in order that the
wheels Of industry may be turned in safety.
Cur grandfatheTs even went to church with
guns on their shoulders; to-day our fnanciers,
our men who loom up big In affairs, 90 20
their places Of business under armed escort
and work behind iron screens in a well guarded
office. Germany and Austria Hungary, aided
and abetted by hundreds Of hyphenated
Judases, have certainly succeeded in insti-
eating a reign of terror in our country.
We are at peace. No hostile soldier has
crossed our border, no enemy's ship Of war
has appeared of our coast And yet, in
order to operate our railroads, TO send out
ships from our ports, to carry on the ordi-
nary and usual routine OF our industrial
life, right here in our own country, under
our own flag, we must muster and arm what
amounts TO an army TO protect ourselves.
When any true American contemplates this
unique situation, when any citizen having
genuine red blood in his arteries stops 70
consider the magnitude Of our humiliation,
blind rage and abject shame struggle for the
mastery within him.
Every thoughtful citizen having the well
fare Of his country at heart is asking him
self this questions: What are we going to
do about it?" With the weakened, white
liyered, crawfish administration, under which
we are trying to live in power for months to
come. there Is slight hope for relief. In
vestigations are going on, there is hurrying
to and fro, the public Is being jollied In
approved fashion. The investigation is
simply a rehash Of information that the
State Department has had in its possession
for months, the stir and hurrah are thrown
in to occupy the attention Of the dear people.
Our minds are already being prepared for
the result Hints are being thrown out that
our laws are not competent TO deal with
these hired assassins, these incendiares,
these violators of all law, human and divine.
~ LOT one month"; lnlIly uaFNf VI AAiNNNS-N
Roosevelt II we have no adequate law, he
would establish a rule; if no one else could
find a way out for us, he would blaze way
his active mind, his tremendous energy would
dominate the situation. The agencies for
evil would have reason TO sit up and take
notice; American citizens could once more
look the world in the face
The race Of schoolmasters must have de-
Perforated since ! was a boy in school. !
cannot recall that any schoolmaster ever
told me that he should consider continued
acts of dsobedience on my part as de
liberately unfriendly." No schoolmaster
ever told me that if | did not behave mo
word or act would be omitted to make me
behave. No, sir, ruler stick, cane were
within easy reach, and punishment followed
disobedience with thoroughness and dis
patch. II Is unfortunate for our country,
our people, our physical. moral and financial
welfare that present day sehoolmasters have
not retained some of the characteristics OF
the oldtimers, for if the malign influences,
so apparent in this country develop as
rapidly during the next six months as they
have during the last our condition will be
wellnigh unbearable. We sowed wind and
hot air in the epoch Of many letters and
stilted rhetoric we are reaping the whirl-
Vind
Beware the Ides Of March"
SUBSCRIBER.
Thomp.onville, Conn, Nov. 27, 1915.