The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-27
The COlOnel's Persistent DelusiOn
About Belgium.

hUOut HSShkhuhus
Anything 10 foolish as m attempt
by the Executive to hold General
LEONARD woop responsible for Colonel
RoosEvELr's utterances at Plattsburg
surpnsses the longest range Of credi-
bility. Secretary GARRISON is not
only a man Of strong ommon sense
hut also a man with an active OF
humor. In this case his influence
with the Administration ought to he
sufficient to save 1t from making
itself ridiculous.
For that part Of Colonel RoosE-
vELT's speech which emphasized the
Importance Of national preparedness,
which discussed the maleicent work
ings of the peace at any price prop
uganda, and which vigorously ex-
posed and denounced the rue charac.
ter Of bipatriotism, the senior ex.
President Of the United States de
serves the thanks Of the country. II
was a public service Of which he and
his friends may well be proud. On
the other hand, Colonel R~oosEyELT's
personal attack on the President was
30 clumsy in conception, 40 ~childishly
violent in expression, and ~ mani
festly inspired by a mistaken idea Of
political opportunity, that nobody but
himself Is in any degree injured by
the unfortunate diatribe. The effect
must he everywhere to strengthen the
Presidents claim on the loyal support
Of the nation in the difficult task
which is-wearing the soul out Of him ;
not TO weaken Mr.. WILSON. at this
critical time, as Colonel ROOSEVELT
evidently intended it to do. We think
the Administration can indeed afford
to omit any action technically posi-
BILE on the ground of a violation of
War Department rules.
Our own feeling in contemplation.
the speech of u distinguished friend
at Plattsburg Is one Of disappointment
that he missed the chance Of his life
tn convince the country that he Is the
reasoning statesman which he really
is. at times. Colonel ROOSEVELT. It
twill be observed. returned intrepid
and u~udismayed to his often repeated
statement concerning the duty Of the
United States Government with re
gard to Belgium. He was more posi-.
tive than ever in declaring that some
where In some of the several treaties
In the series of conventions signed
at The Hague and subsequently rati-
fled by the United States vhere eX-
listed a provision by which we under
took TO guarantee. to assert. and II
necessary to defend by force of arms,
the neutrality Of Belgian territory.
His language at Plattshurg leaves
room for no different construction
Under the Hague convention it was
our bounden duty 10 take whatever ac-
ton was necessary to prevent, and If
not to prevent, then to undo, the hideous
wrong that was lone to Belgium. We
have shirked this duty. We nave shown
a spirit ~ dDJf'l lutl 'tTlldHN mas
deemed it safe TO kill our women and
children on the nigh seas"
That is 10 say. it was our own obi
cation, according 10 actual treaty ON
tract. ~ send American troops to Bel.
GUM to resist the attempted violation
of her territory by the Germans; or
II we could not get our soldiers there
IN season. nj least to send them to
assist In cNpelling the invader. our
neglect to do our "bounden duty" to
Belgium has covered the United
States with shame and disgrace. for
which the Wilson Administrations
~inaction and failure to intervene arr
responsible.
This much Colonel ROOSEVELT has
declared already IN one form or an.
other, three or four times II not
uftener. In his magazine writings. H.,
turn Ia the actual text of the con.
ventions adopted ut The Hague and
ascertain. for the information Of his
rea lrrs, the exact whereabouts of the
~rontractual obligation alleged by him
to have been Shamefully evadel by
the United States. Al least. the COLO
mel has never specified. 50 far rs we
are aware. the convention Of the So.
ricS, or the article If the convention.
or the section of the article, warrant.
ing the tremendous accusation which
he brings, in the most gcnera and,
sweeping fashion, against the gentle.
man who has followed him Ia the
Whit" House as President of the
United States,
Within the past week TIM Sun
has been obliged more than once 10
disclaim responsibility for these re
Ieatel declarations about orr alleged
treaty gcmcnts regarding Bel.
GUM, and tn refer inquircrs to the
Colonel himself for n more specific
location of authority than he has
yet vouclsafed in his & refer
enres to the Hague conventions"
Accordingly, we are both surprised
ana disciplined to find that he neg.
lected 80 good an opportunity as was
afforded at Plattshurg for satisfying
the reasonable curiosity Of the public
Ms to the wherea bouts and exact text
OF h treaty ENGAGEMENTS ~ shuuo