New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-15

lie has not forgotten that the plans OF the
gunfre control Of our greatest battleship
were stolen. The public has not forgotten
the continued presence of German reservists
in our departments of state. The public
has not forgotten the revelations" made
through 1.-THE New York World" The pubic
has not forgotten the constantly increas-
ing number of explosions engineered by the
German authorities in this country. The
public has not forgotten the forging by the
German authorities Of our passports. The
public has not forgotten the published re-
rort of the interview of "P. NJ" The pub
lie has not forgotten number Of other ir
cidents, and that they were each an assault
upon the rights and dignity of the United
States of America and upon the peace and
security of the lives and property Of the
citizens thereof The public has not for
gotten that no efficient action has been
taken by the administration in any one o.
them. The high priest some weeks ago
placed his hands upon the head of the
Scapegoat, who then departed into the will
derness, bearing with him the sins of the
administration. No second scapegoat Is
ready. II recollection serves, il was but
once year that a scapegoat could be sent
forth. The public has not forgotten that
there has been, since the departure of the
Scapegoat continuance of the inability TO
assume leadership and take responsibility
in other words, to act, except under public
pressure.
The public is well aware that at least
rine-tenths of the administrations woes aro
difficulties have arisen purely and solely
from the administrators incapacity to act
and that such fact has encouraged fur
Their assault. If the past were all it were
enough. But the effect of the past is to be
reckoned with in the future. The country
has been bred full of traitors. The steady
encouragement given by failure to repress
has made traitors out of thousands of de-
cent German-Americans who would have
teen loyal citizens under a leader Of the
people, but who, encouraged 10 believe that
this was not a nation, but a dsorganized
aggregation of individuals without national
life, national character, national honor, ma
tional purpose national force, national
ideals, have felt that they owe no allegiance
and have reverted to "a leader"-the EN-.
peror Of Germany. When, as We ultimately
must, we come to grips with the enemy Of
the progress of the human race, the nation
which would substitute force for justice,
militarism for civilization, we shall find
that we are betrayed by countless of our
own at home-all of whom would have
cheerfully done their duty in the cause ri
right had they not been taught from above
that there was no such thing as loyalty,
as national honor, as right and wrong, be-
tween nations.
All this has been done, il it has had any
underlying reason, from a total misconcep-
ton of world facts, which msconception,
starting at the head, has extended down
through all the ranks of otficialdom. II
has been said that the country should stand
by the administration. How can one stand
by an administration whose sole occupation
is to lie down? What has become OF the
ideals for which America was supposed to
stand and for which she is ready to stand
against the more selfish nations of the
earth? On what basis can Justification OF
our course be placed! Desire for peace
but it is our course which has encouraged
aggression and will continue 70 encourage
aggression until we are forced into actual
war. So far from the course which has
been pursued assuring Of peace, il Is
the very course which, pursued, must nee
cssarily destroy peace. Unless the traits
of which we have had many examples
ore inherent and constitutional limitations
Of the individuals composing the admins
tration il is not too late TO save the dignity
and TO assure the peace of the nation, bu.
persistence in the present course will bring
three things-the contempt OF the world
war, and change Of administration
CHARLES STEWART DAWSON.
New York. Sept 10. 1915.