New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-06
MILITARISM VS.. PATRIOTISM
Latter, Not Former, the Basis OF
Demand for Protection.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Every now and then The Tribune is
taken to task for its miltaristic editorials
one such letter appearing in The Tribune
of July %, written by Harry n Stark.
Mr.. Stark seems to be very much alarmed
lest The Tribune should warn, or, more
properly speaking, advise, the people as 10
what should be done to keep them IN line
with the signs Of the times.
lie SAYS that The Tribune made no effort
to support The Trbune's statement that
the people of the United States did not
want militarism; that he supposes that 1t
WAS to be accepted merely Because 1t was
set forth by the time honOred Tribune
II wasn't necessary for The Tribune TO
rrove its statement, because 1t is so yer!
plain that the temper of the people OF the
limited States shows they don't want MILL
carism. Not for many years has my blood
been so stirred to the fighting point as when
tn, Lusitania horror came upon us; put my
militant zeal has been somewhat sottened
since. and | am reading The Tribune edi-
torjals every day. | do not take The Irlb-
me editorials as a signal for us to prepare
TO light. | believe the masses would under
stand that they mean for US TO prepare for
protection. A farmer, when he builds a
corn crib. takes the precautiOn to place TIN
pans upside down on the foundation posts
OF his crib, for what? Not to kill rats, but
as :: protection to his corn IN the CRIB
against rats,
Mr.. Stark and the ministers of the Gospel
Of whom he speaks need not fear that The
Tribune editorials are making US crazy for
lght The majority of the people OF tins
trtO
and ever will be, but true American patriot
ism is not the kind of patriotism which is
running amuck in Europe to-day. True
patriotism as applied to the American idea
stands not only for the love of ones coun-
try but also for the love of liberty, justice
and humanity throughout the whole world
and not patriotism founded on hatred.
This country will never provoke a fight,
when two-thirds of its people are patriots
Of the American idea. Our boys who are
taught the true American idea of patriotism
and who are also taught how best to protect
their country when it is necessary will never
take up arms for the sake of exploiting
rliiitarism. Miltarism as practised abroad
is contrary 10 our taste ana honor.
The function of a newspaper, as | under
stard it, is not to keep the people in igno-
rance. but to keep them well informed and
for the purpose of exchanging ideas, and |
do not see how The Tribune, with its sound
and broad editorials, founded on facts, is
going to make the patriotic, justice loving
people of this great and glorious country
bloodthirsty by exhortng the truth.
One of the most remarkable things about
the American people since the war began
has been their evenly balanced temper of
mind their ability to keep cool. In all the
land there has been really but one war
reetlng. and that was the Madison Square
Garden meeting, where $4,000 Germans
gathered to try to hear Bryan talk on peace.
There is not militaristic movement on
foot in this country, Mr.. Stark and his min
isterial friends 10 the contrary notwith-
standing. FRANK l.. SOWTER.
New York, July 81, 1915.