New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-11
OUR THREEFOLD DUTY
To Avoid ENHANCEMENT, Prepare
and to Woo Latin America.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: All America seems divided into tao
parts-one blatantly pro-German, the Other
decisvely pro.Ally. Why not emulate Gag
and have three parts, one Obc it ever
infntesimaD pro-American?
For US citizens of country unrcsineied
as 20 size and enjoying the bounty o.
benignant nature 10 sit down and bitterly
criticise Germany for unsheathing her
sword and fighting for her place IN the sun
and 70 wax so sloppiy sentimental in our
ardent advocacy of the Allies war for hu'
mainly and democracy, smacks Of snug and
complacent hypocrisy.
Germany had prior 20 the war a popua'
ton of some sxty-fve millions cooped up 70
territory requiring the most intensive
labors to render partially productive. Her
phenomenal commercial development was Sc
riously hampered by lack Of seaports. sa'
needed colonies where her youth could gro'
70 manhood in the sanctiAed atmosphere
German Kultur, instead OF emigratug
foreign countries and thereby being los. y
20 the empire. But her every move In /"
direction Of a reasonable, and for a s'-if
virile nation a wholly necessary terriw'n
development was checkmated at Do"nis
Street Germany faced at each turn W
menace of the combined military and ns'
establishments Of Russia, France and Gr.''
Britain. Realizing that war was Inevitable
Germany struck first, and struck wantonH
Her cynical disregard Of her pledged woFi
and her retrogression to the methods Of
barbarian era when warfare vas Wh0|
brutal, inhuman and depraved natunP
alienated neutral sympathy
Undoubtedly Germany's and Gres, .Br@if'
means are different, but arc not the ena
sought equally imperisistic? Viewed no.
detached perspective the imperialism O.
both seems entirely admirable; Tor nations
csnno. be judged by the same standard O
morality as individuals, and traits when -
the individual are debasing achieve grfnde-'
when refined by national patriotism.
As an American, prefer 20 see q esei'"
defeat OF Prusssn ambition FOR world GO
minion rather than a decisive victory o. -,
Entente Powers that would give 20 hns.l'
the hegemony of Europe. While war y
tween the United States and England seem
inconceiyable just now, the ideals ana a'p"'
tons Of two nations, however frieno'V. @.
never wholly parallel each otner. G'e,'
Britain can hardly be expected 20 we" WI.
excessive enthusiasm the aggressive eho',
of American capitalists 20 expand our 'iAo'
in competition with her in foreign msrSsN
and thereby threaten her comnercia'
premacy. In the event OF our becoming :
volved in a war with Japan would not hns
land feel impelled 10 extend her moraI -
not surrepttiously her financial suppoH u"
her Nipponese ally7
Thus our duty is threefold: FirsS
should refrain from engaging in entshg.-.
alliances with European powers; seeoha'
should enforce a large expansion o. "
naval and a judcious augmentation OF -.
military strength; and, third, we should s.s,
to extend our increasingly cordial reis,O-
ship with our South American reisnOV.-
toward the creation Of a real Pan-Amersss,.. CO...
ism which would guarantee the invo'so'.N
of that masterpiece Of American siatesm''
ship. the Monroe Doctrine.
J. B. PHILLIPS ~
East Orange, n. j., Dec. 5, 1915.