New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-13
Remember the Lusitania!

when the spectacle OF some sColes VI
women and children, American women
and children among them, scattered over
the seas by brutal and murderous attack
by a warship, their helpless hands out
stretched appealing not to nationality
but to humanity, would have moved the
Government and the people of the United
States to a wrath and Indignation which
would have stirred the whole nation. In
those better and drawer days no American
could have been brought to believe that In
later years, in the presence Of such a
massacre, an American Administration
would wait supine and complaisant, trust
ing that some technical pretext might alb
solve it from the duty of protecting
American lives or putting final end to
crimes that would make a red Indian
blush.
A hundred years ago, when this country
was weak and lacking in all that wealth,
numbers, national greatness could provide
to strengthen its hand, it did not hesitate
to venture on q doubtful war to perform
the first duty of any State. How would 1t
have seemed to the men of that day if they
had been told that time would come in
the history of their country when Amerl-
can women and children would be muir
dered upon the high seas by friendly
nation-God save the mark.-that the mas
sacre would follow direct and explicit
warning by the United States, and four
months after the crime there would still
be no disavowal, no apology, not even so
much as q promise to pay the poor indem-
nifty which is the sole reparation possible.
The men, women and children of the
Lusitania were massacred because the
German Government believed that the
Wilson Administration did not intend TO
make good its brave words with coura
geous action. Out Of pity for prospective
victims the German Embassy in this coun-
try warned those who were planning 20 60
down to the sea upon the Lusitania that
they would be murdered. They were muir
dered. and the best that their own country
could do for them was TO write note,
three notes, magnificent in the lofty hu-
mainly therein expressed and futile IN
effect and in purpose. To these notes Ger
many made only quibbling answers, letting
the last go wholly unheeded and leaving
the United States TO mourn its murdered
dead without hope Of reparation.
To-day. after the Ancona killing, as yes
terday. and all days since the submarine
blockade began. the American Government
is sitting calmly in the face Of all the evi-
dence that is mounting Of hideous crime,
for which no technical defence is defence,
eagerly. hopefully, watchfully waiting for
some pretext, detail, surface Circumstance
which may excuse it from taking any &C
ton. It is thinking not about the dead, the
slaughtered women and children, not about
the future perils and possibilities for
American women and children; it is think
ing of the best way TO escape from the
situation which only courage could face
and only deep and sincere patriotism meet.
Across the water men, even women and
children, are giving their lives for the
things that are worth living and dying
for. They are making the supreme sacri-
flee out of which arises national and
human greatness. Here in America, IN
der the inspiration Of Mr.. Wilson's Ad-
pninistration, the American people are day
by day absorbing more and more Of the
cult of cowardice and the gospel Of selfish
ness. II is better that some women and
children should be murdered than that
many men should risk their precious lives.
Il is better that American honor, all that
America has meant in the years Of our
national existence, should be discarded
than that this country should put 10 the
touch It's comfort, It's prosperity, its glori-
Gus peace, which is the peace Of coward
ice This is the New Patriotism.
More than all this, from day 20 day
there is growing up the belief that
there is something Of super-nobility in
this American attitude, that there is some
thing OF higher morality, more perfect re-
ligion in suffering murder, refusing 70
protect your women and children, in being
comfortable rather than brave, and secure
rather than self-sscrifcing, just 50 long
as IL is possible 10 find appropriate words
and pretty phrases. just 50 long as il Is
possible 20 declare an abstract devotion 70
high principles without taking a single
step to defend or maintain these princi-
pies. This Is becoming the American doc
trine Of public and international policy.
Unhappily there is only one result "
such a policy. It does not invite respect,
but murder; il does not make u respected
il does not even keep US safe. To-day our
own country is filled from one end 20 the
other with disorder and with violence,
which shows itself in fires, explosions,
plotting. Ships that sail from American
ports break into fame. An Austrian
Il l. L L. a