New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-20

could give offence and dwells only on
the failure of President Wilson to dis
charge what the President himself pro.
fesses to regard as the highest duty OF
neutrals; the UNFOLDING OF lnterna-
tional Law.
French Opinion.
| think | may say that on this sub
iect French opinion is even stronger
than English. | mean by French opinion
both official opinion and Press opinion;
the latter being an expression OF pubic
opinion in it's largest sense. we ali
know how friendly France is 10 Amer,
lea. We have had abundant proofs OF
il in times past. Ask Governor her
rick what he thought OF it while he
wes our Ambassador 10 France. Gov
ernor Herrick is the better witness be
cause he himself while Ambassador did
much to strengthen the historical
friendship between France and the
United States. He was a great Ambas-
sador in the same sense that LORD
Pauncefote was during his thirteen
years tenure of the British Embassy IN
Washington: in the same srlse that Mr..
Reid was here in London; in the same
sense that Sir Cecil Spring Rice is to-
dav in Washington. The unrelaXlng
view of each one of those Ambassadors
u,se that tho interests OF his own coun-
try were best served by considering the
interests of both; interests for the most
rart interdependent, if not always iden-
teal. Ii is the view which NJ. Jusse,
rand during his long and distinguished
service in Washington has never iallea
10 observe 1t is the view when count
Bernstorff has never failed TO trampIe
mon. with the federation, the acquires
cence. if not the sympathy, OF Presi-
dent Wilson.
put these points plainly because 1
think it for the welfare of the United
States that Americans should under
stand, whether they approve or not the
opinion of Europe. ! take France as an
example because we have, so far as L
know, no animosities against France.
The section Of American extremists
who hate England do not hate France.
They have nothing to allege, truly or
untruly, against the France OF the past
or of the present. And therefore tney
ought to be told that the French ludg-
ment upon President wilson's perform
ance is not less implacable than inc
English judgment IL would De ldie 10
Geny that the incapacity OF fresloeht
Wilson has brought reproach not ohIy
upon him but upon the great Common
wealth Of which he is the unworthy
ruler. We owe mainly to him, thougn
not wholly, the loss or reputation anu
authority as great Power whlch, uh-
iii he embarked upon his do-nothlhe
policy, we had enjoyed for century.
Americans Who Are Americans.
- C..an acLpoyyiedVps
fully the debt OF gratitude which Eng
land owes 10 "our cousins beyond the
Atiautic" He singles out Mr.. braun
Wbitlock and Mr.. Hugh Gibson as ex-
srnples Of the real feeling and the real
wiii 81 the American people. Mr.. Whit.
lock's efforts 10 rescue Edith Caveli
from her German mufderers have
gbovn Europe that there is an Amer
lea which never rested content with he:
Presidents refusal TO protest against
German barbarities. From the be
ginning the Presidents notion OF neu-
ttalitv was 90 dis0wn every moral OBJ
ostion. and every obligation or that
humanity whereof he proclaimed MN
I'M The soldier. Said Sir Edward Car
son:
"Nr. Whi,loek and Mr. Gibson full
Giied the functions Of representatives
Of your great United states anu
showed themselves men who had IN,
grained In them those qualities ana
feelings % humanity which, even IN
time Of war, are implanted by our great
Maker" -,
From al contrast between Mr.
Brand Whitlock and President WI
son Sir Edward stays his hand ne
Goes not think ~ his duty 20 draw the
contrast. But what about US? "a IL
our duty or Ia Il not? Is IL, or IS II not
our duty 20 redeem. 80 far as we can,
the country we love from the obloquy
which our Presidents silence about
Belgium has brought upon usY Lev
as grant him, for arguments sake. the
right 20 keep out Of war which IS
being fought by England and France
and Russia for civilization and for US
But vas IL war when Germany betook
herself 10 assassination, to the whole
sale rape Of Belgian women, 20 the
Wholesale shooting and torture OF in
noccnt civilians slike In Belgium. In
france and In Russia Is there any
meaning IN neutrality which bids
the Head Of great Christian Re-
public hold his tongue about such
crimes as thess1
O. VS..