New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-04
THAT man is PreSi dent Wilson. "

in the field and rooted in dull revenge under
the stress of bereavement, the civilian popula-
ton hates with hatred unknown to most SOL
diers. And so in blind fear, iRshliAd hate, the
peoples stumble forward along the valley OF
abomination and despair behind their lnfatu-
ated and insensate leaders.
No force it would seem, which either the
belligerent peoples or their governments can
evolve will arrest the madness which Is de-
stroying civilization. And yet if it be not ar
rested disaster beyond the imagination of brain
to grasp will overwhelm Europe. That force
must come from without, and there is but one
man who can WELD it-President Wilson.
Rash, mpertinent it may appear for for
eigner to write thus of your First Citizen, to
raise an unknown voice in hearing Of the accu-
mulated care which weigh so heavily upon the
leading representative of a neutral state-upon
one who is the living embodiment of your true
dignity and YOUR true greatness. Yet in count
less European hearts there beats the hope-the
pathetic trust-that in him humanity may find
It's savior-that there may be granted unto MN
a message from the Cross. do but express,
feebly enough, what multitudes are thinking
hoping, awaiting. Formless, vague is the hope.
Nevertheless it is very real. Can shape and
substance be given to it?
IF TERMS COULD BE DISCUSSED.
The bellgerent governments have for de-
cades encouraged mans progress in inven-
ton. his triumphs over nature IN the dlrec-
ton of mans destruction; and now they nave
Embossed all the factors of primal savagery
armed with these terrible powers. They see
the work of decades crumbling before ther
ewes. They shudder at the ethical degraua-
ton: the spiritual collapse which is overwhehn-
ing society. They recoil with horror at the
abvss of economic ruin, of disease ana want
of social tumult which yawns wider at their
feet as month follows month, each month
catastrophe in itself
And vet each fears to be the first to tread
the path which leads to the international
Council Chamber. Each bases its resolve 10 90
IN N the bitter end Each repudiates every
SUGGESTION TO state the terms upon which 1t
would consent to discuss. None dare take the
initiative.
Rut if thew will not speak to one another,
would thew severay refuse to lay their views
before your President on the understanding
that the collective expression of those views
should be communicated ny IHe licoluN"' W
them all in public dispatch? In so doing
thew would sacrifice none of their prestige
to which they cling and which each deems
would be ieopardzed if it opened communica-
ton with the others. Did they respond to that
invitation, they would not necessarily, thereby
commit themselves to acceptance of the Presl-
dents ultimate mediation. But 1t would be
step on that road; or at least step toward
an armistice.
The essential is that the peoples in each bel
lgerent state should be in position to know
what at this moment the governments are
fighting TO attain-not in vague but in precise
terms This they cannot now learn because
the governments will not tell Them save IN
rhetoric capable of an infinite variety OF In
depreciation. This, through the Presidents
initiative, they might ascertain, and they have
suffered and are suffering so greatly, the
future outlook for them is so appalling that 1t
would be incredible if in each belgerent state