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

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The forcibe leader in The Tribune
to-day is n bold declaration and one that
many native Americans will be compelled
with shame 10 acknowledge as a clear and
sound indictment: Let US be perfectly
frank in this matter; the vast majority oil
Americans have no appreciation of the mean
ing of the present conflict in history Great
hes been the fall from the ideals OF the
fathers" emphasized by Alexis de Tocque-
willie in the "thirties" Of the century that is
past. compared with the ethical standards OF
the electorate Of the present time.
Yes. let US be very frank and confess that
Tho mcd.ocrity Of our democracy is becoming
more and more evident The smatterers are
predominant IN greater proportion than IN
the days 81 old Superfciaiity abounds In
schools. colleges. and The press, too. In larger
m casurc than ever before. Pusillauimous-
ross is thc chord OF cowardice and s 20 be
ah-srcd almost everywhere throughout the
lard What Fl, the nature. for example. %
the understanding rho average inhahiiart or
.fc community enjoy. .0 respect 20 Doltcs.
-r.rr.-le, srf 'he .deris which founded this
Republic
Tho conditions Dol Nev Work extend 90 th'
l.rr,rt rt I.r.t though possibly boz lcss DO
gree A,p -srt.rsI observer In Europe and
,he South American rcpuhhcs 81 social
srd political conditions. am urged Co
arsrrvIrHs. ttaf ns intellectual dc,clop.
.rnt - pro democratic ideal and che rcrTctu.
alton ~ republican forces .r government
throughout ite eor'i reti largely UPON thc
r..s,sr1 st.f of th. rrrat Frsnch dcrncc
fasf frsrre .s ffhnre not alone for lcf
.,|f TI. rrrHIIrr NJ 'hc Western Nc~.s.
therr arr profoundly concerned .r thc guar.
roo NJ .hr continuation Of democratic
favcr Ifar.r ff helping fr cs'AhI.ih rgruh-
.,an control ~ the German Empire D., Che
.corIc aI Germany. francc is awakening
sfair r hs commonwealth she spirit OF
l-rG
our ,..l War Ola not contain elements
~ dissolution o., powerful az those az work
hstc bon thr pnat decade. A. nation We
have been indifferent TO the writing on the
wall. AND have permitted Ourselves 90 drift
into % mnclstrom Of aordid commcrciahsm,
which BE- nt trcachcrous 90 a continuation Of
the socialism Of Christianity rs ~ the abSolu-
psm co. the rrustian dynasty
Yes. let us boz frank with one another and
impress strongly the truth on France and
Grcnt Britain that the vast majority" Of
the children Of the fathers Of 5000 are
not informed m respect 10 the objects TO be
achieved through the attainment of that
standard of political enfranchsoment which
establishes freedom and not vassalage. Yes.
let us say 10 the nations abroad, IT is true
that we have read and studied certain books
when we attended school. and we answered
certain questions, and then we received n
parchment or scrap OF paper. and some OF
us do not know what became of IT, We
do not understand and don't care about dem
ocratic ideals unless there is something in
il for us" Yes, we shall admit publicly our
disgrace. |, for one, have confessed "A num-
Der of times privately and have found 1t on
one or two occasions essential as matter
of self-respect to apologize for being ma
tive of my own country.
As for our administrators at Washington:
God save the mark, They had the opportu-
nifty a year ago last August TO vbratc "the
ideals of our fathers" so as to be heard In
every state in Eastern Europe and by the
nations of Asia ne clearly as at Bunker Hill.
Had the trumpet then been sounded it would
have emphasized again to the countries in
the south that it is the firm intention OF the
people in this Republic to have the autonomy
of the smaller states respected and suS-
tanned sacred. and that the tearing Of
treaty does not annul the great obligation
to protect human liberty and to cooperate
in the emancipation Of the world. Again
and again the Executive had the chance
which he could not see the day of special
prayer. then came Thanksgiving Day and the
Christmas holidays. with Washington ano
Lincoln's birthdays in the new year. The
Day of independence finally came still he
failed in the manly courage TO declare for