New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-06
KEEP AMERICA OUT
Humanity Must Suffer if This Coun
try Goes to War.

10 tho Editor of The Tribune.
SIR: While insults and outrage. culm'nat-
ing m tho sinking OF the Iu-Itauia. were
being piled by tho German government upon
this country was for almost immediate war
and inclined 70 chidc the President for the
seeming mildncss OF his notes Lately a
ca'mcr consideration and wider purvlew of
circumstances have induced an entire change
Of mind and feeling that war, or even
severance Of diplomatic relations, should not
no entered into. save a. a very last resort
and when every other possible method Of ar
ranging a satisfactory settlement has been
proved to he hopeless
The opening lines Of Bclial's speech IN
paradise Lost" fit the case TO nicely;
81 should be much for open var. q peers,
A. rot behind In hate; If what was urged
Main reason 10 pcrsuade immediate war
Did not dissuadc me most, and seem TO cast
Ominous conjecture on the whole success.
What is. then, this main reason II D.
certainly not revenge; It rs hardly even the
vindication Of national honor. In my ve"'
Tho fundamental reason would be tho service
Of humanity. Would the cause Of humanity
bc r.rthcrcd or would it be till more endan-
rcrcd by the entry Of this country INTO the
conflict? As | sec II. most certainly the lat
fer. and for the following reasons:
We must never forget the plight Of Bel
GUM. Of Poland. and other devastated coun-
tries. where the work Of the American Relief
Commission. Of Red Cross and other ns'Itn-
lions has diminished the suffering from war
10 a marvellous extent.
Since this bcnc6cent work can be carried
on only by permission Of Germany, host'litiof
with that country would Immediately term-
nate it all, leaving those unfortunate coun-
tries destitute, helpless, an unprotected prey
to a mcrcilcss enemy.
A cabled report from London OF the Amer
can Commission for Relief in Belgium shows
that food supplies to the value of S65.oOO,oOo
have been distributed, on an actual contribu-
ton Of only SlOO0OOOO.
This wizardry has been accomplished
through the remarkable financial skill Of II.
G. Hoover
Not only has starving population been
fed but many industries have been revived hy
means Of which much future need will be
cared for
Poland IS in even a worse condition than
Belgium is or was And i'm Poland the one
hope is that American philanthropy and
financial ability will come to the rescue Of a
population reduced to uttermost misery.
Furthermore, the untiring efforts OF the
American Ambassador at Berin have largely
mitigatcd the bitter and unnecessary hard
ships there inflicted on prisoners OF var
In the event OF hostilities all this beneh-
cent work would automatically stop. Present
needs. which are bad enough would no longer
he provided for and future far worse and
absolutely uncared for is appalling
We cannot dive into the mind OF the Presl-
dent. but j. is safe 20 conjecture that such
considerations as these have not been for
gotten when he framed his various notes.
We may not be too proud 70 fight but
we should most seriously ponder the question
whether the interests of humanity can better
be served by entering into hostlites with a
nation that fouts and outrages US, or by
seeking in every possible way 70 maintain
relations with il, even at some cost TO ma
tional pride and national interests, If We are
thereby enabled 20 continue our assistance 10
the innocent sufferers OF the war
R. W MACkRETH
Ivv. Va May 81. 1915.