New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-23
WAR A HORROR
Honor Lies in Raising Bigger Crops
Not Fighting.
TO .he Editor Of The Tribune.

To .he Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: am somewhat disappointed In Ih'
Tribune's stand on the sinking Of the Lust
tana. The editorials appertaining thereto
show not the breadth OF vision could wish.
They do not appear TO recognize the Luh'
tanis as British merchantmen, carrying
contraband Of war. They do not seem to
admit progress in war methods IS In other
things. War has always been cruel. Why
should II not become more cruel as the means
Of cruelty increase? Why should an over
matched enemy politely Alphonss and Castor
before stepping forward 70 take what means
are left her for nhicting injury! Rules OF
war are not like game rules. War Is no's
game-it Is released passion. Its laws
like the laws Of all passions, are 20 let every
thing slide except one object snd TO attain
that object The Tribune also has no.
seemed to recognize that Germany IN war
cannot put aside that logical tnoroughns''
which in peace was her prime and most so'
mirable characteristic War Is terro'
thing. The war lords can see this. Ihey o''
Systematically seek the most conclusive nor
rors-as did the painted savages-to 'eH''
their enemies. That neutral subjects lAusa
az her declaration OF paper blocKade 'h1
vilfullv sail in her arch enemy's ships n0'
Germany's concern, nor should il DO Amer
icas concern If her duly warned CITIZENS ~
eide on risking their lives for purposes u
business or curiosity. l am not unsymp''
thetic toward those poor people VINO wen
down in this the second Titanic disaster. nu.
nv sympathy Is too strongly on me sae %
the living 70 allow of much sentinen'aiii'"s
on behalf of the lost. The living Americans
of to-day are too vitality important 70 "'
wellbeing Of the world after the war 'O' s w.,
serious talk Of this nations joining the wiz
men abroad ~.
II the million men we would lose couIo ..
the foundered and homeless, the cr1ppieo '"'
useless Of America il might be well 70 en'e,
and let them be shot. But the million "oa.'
be our young men. These the "o'ia "e'
in the hard decades after the war " mus
he considered, too. that war unnsns as DIV"
as Il makes men. But in spite OF 'ne w
manned the taxes furnish pensions for '''"'
and unsound alike TO the great delay Oh -
tional improvements OF lasting va'oe
might be undertaken were the money "''
spent. ,,.
Why should the question OF physical 0',
cry enter into this business at an ~
speed at which we drive our motors
trains il may be seen that we are nor P"'
cal towards. II Germany Is trying 10 WIZ
us into declaring against her, then ee''a""'
we should not take her despicaole oSie'
many is fighting for more commerce
really come 10 feel she needs wnipp'Hs
our hands our sensible and most IMMENSE
irritating course is 10 win thst sah' -.
merce she seeks 70 gain. Jesus was -
showing good business talent In eApos"O"
his doctrine Of the other cheek 'H'
with the most cheek usually gets 'he ". ~,
itv business. We should All our eheess
tongue and turn to with a vengeance. 0n'S
ling and not in blood lust, we shouio n .sa,,
ourselves TO raise bigger ana pew" -, ~,
than ever before, because Europe WI"
nitiful waste by fall and IN reed OF .u
things we Americans turned "arrlVl Ne,
not provide. Can't IL be seen mat n' T,.r,
honor for us and no otherwnere 40.
is no honor in turning eleyenth'hOu, IL,
batant and sharing the laurels with L.c.r.
dozen or so other victors. We cannot "s" !.
many fairly now. Ii we must have var ...r-
honorable men, should wait until sne fore
sumed her balance after the count O''
pitching into her. .rxilId DO
| will enlist il there is war, but ao..
so feeling myself dishonored with my na"
War now will be a shame as well as >, M" q,
and source Of farreaching loss 70 o.. I,;suus
who trouble the earth. Cannot Inc ~Sieh
shift her powerful sails to the tack s sS
makes for the undiscovered country ~,
nations are generously noble truly EMS IyS
Torringford. Conn. May IS, 1910 DO