New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-17
TWO POINTS OF VIEW
The One Seems Sufficient Condemna-
ton of the Other.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue of May T.. among the
letters 10 the editor are two which attract
attention, particularly as they are more or
less perfect types Of the line OF thought of
two widely differing classes Of people. One
appears under the caption German Hate Re-
mitted" and is signed II. +. II says Ger
many has every reason 70 hate the Americans
who sailed on the Lusitania" because they
marred Germanys triumph In her latest brill
liant achievement" II goes on 10 say, how
ever. that the noble heart OF Germany
has forgiven them. Could the Christ Himself
do more?'
It seems hardly possible that a member Of
any one of the civilized states which are
commonly alluded TO as the world powers
could be guilty Of such blatantly brutal fanat-
icism. yet it is only a sample Of what We
are hearing and seeing about us every day
This statement and what IL typhes is not
the product Of single disordered mind. It
is rejected in the "Ich und Gott" attitude
Of the Kaiser himself, and is the typical
frame Of mind Of nation which has outdone
the "unspeaksbe Turk at his own game. It
is we'll that these two peoples are allied in
fact as they are undoubtedly in spirit
The other letter under the caption "As
Americans" and signed II. +. Whicher, is
along an entirely different line, but none the
less typical. While every right thinking man
will heartily indorse many Of the sentiments
expressed in this letter. 81 the same time il
Enthusiastically betrays q boodless, spineles.
and unmanly dependence on high sounding
phrases and plattudes. Sentiments as eX-
pressed in this and dozens of other letters
and interviews which have read are GER
tainly not those of virile self-respecting
progressive people. The regrettable thing
is, however, that it undoubtedly correctly eX-
presses the position Of large class Of Amer
leans who have allowed commercalism, lux
ury or selfshness 20 dwarf their patriotism.
By all means let US appeal 10 reason with
reasonable beings, but Germany is about
susceptible to reason or moral suasion
hungry tiger about to spring on lost baby
in the jungle. In such cases action, and not
words. is demanded. And action which would
properly and decisively indicate our position
need not mean war. II IL does, II IS less de-
plorabe than is the disposition 70 avoid il
at any cost We who went into the war with
Spain, broadly speaking, for humanitarian
reasons, without any thought of material
gain for ourselves something new in the his
tory OF nations-shoud not be the ones 70
stand in abject horror now at the prospect
Of war in the face of crime equal to any
thing In the days Of the Spanish Inquistion,
and that, too, against our own citizens. In
many past troublous times American citizen
ship has been more highly priced than any
other because Of its prestige 1t is at last
openly fouted-let US hope not successfully.
From Washington down our great men have
been peace loving men. rather than warriors.
but when all honorably peaceful means
failed they left no misunderstanding about
their ability TO strike and strike hard, and
their righteous blows left the cause OF hu-
msnity and civilization better than they
found il. 1t is scarcely believable that Wash
ington or Lincoln would tolerate official re-
lations with such nation as Germany has
shown herself TO be. Let US bear these great
men and their policies in mind
ALLEN p. FORD.
Bridgeport Conn, May 10, 1915.