Gilpin observer., 1915-05-27
TRUTH THAT MAKES FOR PEACE

TRUTH THAT MAKES FOR PEACE
Not because we are for war but
because we are fer peace, we rejoice
in fact that early yesterday morning
the president announced that at Phil
adelphia the evening before he was
not thinking Of the Lusitania when
he said:
There is such thing as a man
being too proud to fight. There
Is such a thing as a nation being
so right that it does not need to
convince others by force that 1T is
right.
Whatever these words may mean
as distractions, if applied to condi-
tions now existing in a world cursed
by lawless war they are bound to be
misinterpreted. They have been mis-
interpreted. No doubt they will be
misinterpreted again and again, in.
spite OF the qualification that now ac-
companies them, by those in Berlin
who mistakenly assume, and are in
danger of acting upon the assump-
tion, that the rights and privileges
of nation of one hundred millions
may be assailed with impunity.
There is no surer way to thrust
the great republic into the arena of
strife than to encourage the idea, all
ready tco firmly held in scme quar-
ters, that we are inclined to meet in
suit and outrage with nothing more
terrible than superior airs and fine
phrases.
1t is widely believed that if Great
Britain had boldly arrayed itself on
the side of Russia and France imme-
dately after the Serbian crisis ap-
peared last July, Germany would have
prevented war. In one of his dis
patches week before hostilities be-
gan, M. Sazonoff, Russian foreign
minister, made an appeal on these
grounds to the COVE nment in London.
1t fell on deaf ears. In the face of
an appalling menace by power full
ly prepared for aggression and
awaiting only a favorable opportunity
to begin it, British statesmen actual
ly encouraged war while they strove
unavailingly for peace. By their words
and their lack CT words they con-
vinced Germany that they would not
fight. That meart- war, ard it was
a war OF such character that Britain
itself. devoted to peace and platitudes
as it had been of late, found within
one tragic week that it could not es-
cape the consequences.
We are dealing with Germany to-
day as Great Britain was less than
year ago. We have had due warning
DDS. If we finch, Germany advances.
If we hold fast, Germany reflects.
The essence of Prussianism is con-
tempt OF a coward. The substance
of Prussianism is force. Prussianism
glorifies force. 1t is subservient to
it at home. 1t is the one thing
abroad that it respects. Prussianism
yielded a little ye' terday. 1t will
yield great deal more tomorrow if
it finds that it is face to face with
a nation that has so much blood and
iron as it's own.
Those who interpret the ideals of
the American people assume a great
responsibility. They must speak
truly and they must speak compre-
hensively. We valre peace but we
do not fear war. 1t is of vital i'm
portance that the line shall always
be sharply drawn between America
the hope of the world and A erica
the valiant defender of that hope
when it is ruthless,y assailed.
Mr.. Wilson hes spoken of pride and
fight and of force and right. These
words have a wide application in a
country that never takes arms with
out extreme provo alton. We have
pride that Will make us fight. We
have fcrce enough to punish wrong
and vindicate right Let there be no
illusions on this score in Berlin or
elsewhere. In this instance, as in
many another, truth makes fer peace,
and peace will make for Justice
New York World.
HEPMANN Ackc WEEk,c