New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-21
STRICT NEUTRALITY.
Nothing to Get Excited About in War
or Lusitania.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: You publish a multitude Of letters
concerning the war and preparedness; msny
of them are apparently from men Of stand
ing and education, and most of them from
cty-bred people. This is very natural, BE-
cause your paper is largely read By the"
classes and being capable. they are more
ready to express their views.
Perhaps. however, you may be interested IN
learning the views of plain, everyday, out
of-town citizen one of that vast army whose
OCCUPATION is farming who has no axe to
grind. and whose ancestry is purely Americas
since the country was first settled. II Is q
personal view. of course. but perhaps repre-
sents the views of larger portion Of Amer
can citizens than might be imagined By one
residing in a section where there are 50
many causes to influence people for one side
or the other.
In the first place, such phases of the v"
as which is right and which is wrong-Whiea
wins or which loses-are matters OF max
ference We are a nation, not police force
and have practically no interest In Europesh
politics. That other nations should try TO drag
US into the war is natural. That such errors
should have the support of any American I"
speech. by word or by act, rs traltorous
Whether by seeking TO stir up animosiV
against most desirable class Of our citizens'
whether by evaggerating and hsrping o,
incidents. with the idea of stirring up ns4
blood; whether by caviling and sneefng o.
those endeavoring 10 fulfil their duty by pUf
suing a course most advantageous 10 'hs
country as a whole, il is equally disloyai snD
traitorous as the act of one who, by violence
seeks to injure the nation that has adopted
him.
One tragic incident that has been nIuen
dwelt on is the sinking Of the Lusitanla. Il
raised storm Of passion in certain quarter
but it is doubtful if the great bulk OF the
population felt very stirred after the ia0"
became known.
That the ship was destroyed IN MANN
contrary TO the dictates of international law
may be true. II is difficult. however, Tor On,
20 see why he should pour out his blood ana
treasure because a few of his countryhe"
persisted in patronzing bellgereht ,e's.
under such obviously dangerous conoi',Vns
To create a wide sympathy one must ~ '''''
use ordinary good judgment.
Another thing that is creating a great y
in the papers is the alleged ATTACKING
munition plants. The first thought that oe0oi
is whether or not in doing such "no'e'o
business in war supplies. We are really n Ts.
trail The common sense answer Is no.
legal answer may be yes. But IN any
isn't it to be expected that the injured 10
tions will feel sore and that certain OF Wv.
adherents will try to stop 1t by falr "''
or foul? ..,s
If the means employed are legal w. W.,
should be no complaint; let those VINO pr
by the manufacture protect themselves 80,
legal means are employed, let them DC ''
with according TO our laws. ,ys
Probably most OF the occurrences are =
accident. II there is incendiausm'
all likelihood sporadic There is no oec@s'si
for hysteria-no call 10 denounce mass's ',
our best citizens simply on the eyideh'' ~,
their sympathies lean one way or the 20,
Why shouldn't il be so? IL is not our -,
II certain Of our people can MAKE
out of the war legally. well and gOOu' .,or
others Of our people dislike this ana co. GO" "a,
them legally. well and good again We "a,
have no grinding TO do. probably the
bulk OF the nation. simply don't care he
As TO preparedness. by all means ,et S,h a
prepared with an efficient army ana I'm.
navy that ranks, not number two ou. -,
Der one. With growing power ana ~ D. as
comes jealousy. There is no suen ',," p
friendship among nations. W.
Scotland Nd Dec. Is, 1918.