New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-10
The"Only Land Upon Which
War Was Forced and Its
Sturdy Blow for
Democracy.
Democracy

CT6Cy.
Britain, and elated by prospect OF immediate
triumph for them, we might have discounted
her action as a mere exercise OF prudence But
she did it when her position was desperate;
when her enemy was pressing her with over
whelmingly superior numbers; and when her
friends who had quite failed her at Liege,
were unable TO hold their own ground or even
to resist being swept back almost TO the gates
of Paris Brussels was defenceless; and Ant
werp, the city most precious TO Belgium and
most coveted by Germany, could no longer.
after the fate of the Liege forts, imagine
itstlf impregnable. Yet Belgium did not hest
tate. She sacrificed Antwerp and saved Calais.
and all that Calais meant, not to her. but 70
France and England, and through England TO
America.
If, after this, one Belgian goes without full
meal whilst thousands OF lapdogs are living in
luxury from Canterbury TO San Francisco and
from Biarritz to Venice, there is really moth
ing more to be said for mankind.
THE DUTY OF GREAT BRITAIN TO
BELGIAN REFUGEES.
Britain's duty in the matter is very clear.
She should relieve Holland of her ruinous over
load OF Belgian refugees. Hollands hospital
ity has been wonderful; but her resources are
hopelessly overtaxed by it; she cannot provide
Tor the material wants OF the refugees and OF
her own now dangerously overcrowded from
tier villages and towns. The British govern
rent should quite simply offer to transport
Belgian refugees TO the British islands. pref
erabv to Ireland, a Catholic country where
there is plenty of room, and give them all the
advantages enjoyed by our prisoners OF war
without the loss of their liberty II would be
fair 70 extend this succor to refugees in France
also. because. as the war is now being waged
on French soil, the French have their own
refugees on their hands Also-though MOI
Frenchman or Belgian will confirm me in this
i arr persuaded that in England, where every
Belgian is a stranger and hero, he will be
more comfortable than in France. where he is
not exactly foreigner and not exactly
Frenchman and is therefore sometimes little
at a disadvantage.
THE PAYMENT OF A DEBT. NOT A
CAPRICE OF CHARITY.
But all this leaves untouched the plight OF
the Belgians in Belgium. The efforts that are
being made to help the Belgans in France and
Holland and England do not reach them. Their
position is desperate, and must remain so until
the Germans are driven out Of their country.
In the parts held by the Germans their plight
is bad enough for as the Germans are in the
position OF a tenant with a very short lease,
they will not spend money on the premises, be-
ing indeed much more bent on removing every
thing that is not fixture; and elsewhere all
the industries are at standstill because OF the
wa;
There is absolutely nothing between them
and starvation except the contributions OF all
citizens of the world who realize that if Bel
GUM had done nothing more than raise the
courage Of the whole world by her astonishing
feat of holding up an apparently irresistibly
superior force for just long enough TO save
French democracy from humiliation and give
the prestige OF Prussian nilitarism It's first and
most surprising check, a contribution to the
funds of the Commission for Relief in Belgium
is the payment Of debt, and not caprice OF
charity.
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING MORE
THAN GENEROUS SPEECHES.
I have tried TO show, / hope successfully,
that the circumstances under which that ser
vice was rendered greatly add to the oblisa'
ton, and in particular that Belgium. though
first and bravest in the field, is the one bellig
erent there who cannot by any possible sophis-
try be accused of having brought about the
bloodshed and destruction from which she has
been the greatest sufferer.
Everywhere you will find men angrily as
serting or denying that Russia willed this war,
that Germany wlled it, that Austria willed IL.
that Britain willed it. that France willed II.
Nobody asserts that Belgium willed it except
tho Prussian mtarists trying 10 make des-
perate case for the lengths 10 which the worst
usages OF war have been pushed against Bel
GUM; and them no disinterested person even
pretends to believe.
therefore make, not an appeal, but claim
on Belgium's behalf which she Is too gracious
10 make for herself. She has taken for her
reople with the thanks due TO benefactor the
payments offered by her debtors, and has never
reminded US that we have paid but small in
stalment of what we owe her. IL is true that
the debt has been acknowledged by all Eng
lands most illustrious spokesmen, poets and
composers, in King Albert's Gift Book.
Put we must pay as we'll as acknowledge;
and ,ye must even nav the more generously as