New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-22

and wantonly murder American citizens
The crisis cam, when the Arabic ircl-
dent fired American public. anger to the
demand that all futile negotiations end.
Patience among the citizens if not IN the
Administration, had been exhausted. We
were now on the point Of being dragged
into war not because Of any honorable
consideration but because an admlnistra-
ton swayed by fear, politics and igno-
rance of diplomatic procedure had involved
The country in a hopeless mess.
TO have gone to war after the L1sl-
tania was to have gone to war honorably-
Those who believe war wicked at all zine
would not have approved of such course.
But they would not be more reconciled
now. On the other hand, some thousands
or millions Of Americans would have
borne their part willingly at the thought
that. their country was TO take the field IN
defence of international law and for the
protection of humanity.
But to go to war after the Arabic
was to fight like a rat in corner, after
six months of trying had failed to dis
close a way Of escape II was to tight
after all the respect Of the world, German
and anti-German. had been sacrificed to
concerns Of domestic politics. 1t was to
fight because the war had become the ere
way now that the Administration could
hope TO escape the consequences Of its
folly by appealing to the patriotism OF a
nation actually at war.
Such a course seemed and seems to The
Tribune indefensible True, if the Ger
mans continue to sink ships we shall get
into a war From this there is no POS
sible escape. But at the present time the
German government is showing an APP
parently honest desire TO meet the de-
mands Of American sentiment 1t is dis
closing signs that it realizes that 1t Is
dealing with the American people, who
will not endure further murder. And up
to this time the German government has
had no reason to believe that there would
be any real protest, any effective action
by this country in any event
The Tribune has never for moment
held any view Of the German action in
sinking the Lusitania save that which 1t
affirmed at the time. It's horror, detesta-
ton, contempt, remain. But you can't
talk about the murder of your citizens for
four months and then suddenly lose your
temper and go to war. The country las
been Inundated in the eyes of the world
and the Germans were justified after the
Lusitana in treating with utter contempt
a nation which would talk endlessly and
act never. The fault for the subsequent
German incidents is not chargeable to Ber-
lin but Washington.
American history records no more hu-
initiating, no more contemplate affair than
that of the German American difference.
The President boldly affirmed his intention
of defending not alone American rights
but neutral rights, not alone international
law but humanity. He never meant to
do il. and when the necessity arose he
fed the issue, he lodged the responsibility
he repudiated the pledge. The American
citizens who went on board the Lusitania
went there armed with the recent declara-
ton of the President holding German 10
strict accountability for any wrong done
to American citizens.
Four months after these men, women
Z 4. he
seas, helpless victims of German ruthless
ness, Mr.. Wilson was still ready to write
notes. More lives had been lost, more
American citize0s had been placed in
jeopardy, but what was all this compared
with the political perils and the hostility
Of the pro-German prOpagandists?
Our neighbor "The World" recently
pointed out, with justice and admirable
fitness, the fashion in which a similar
policy followed by Buchanan had brought
the Civil War upon the nation. The
North believed the South was only talking
the South believed that the North was
"too proud to fight" The end was ines
capable. 1t is unacceptable now unless the
Germans actually desire to avoid a war
with US If they do they will meet US On a
possible basis. We have no business new
to attempt to threaten them or render
still more difficult the task they have with
their own people, who are fully and nat
urally convinced from past incidents that
there is no danger of war with US. Yet
last week exactly this sort of provocative
talk emanated daily from the White
House, not from the President, but from
those who could speak for him and have
their words accepted.
Mr. Wilson's German policy has been d
sham from start to finish. 1t has nearly
involved us in a war because the Amer
lean people believed it was sincere while
the Germans knew it was utterly insin-
cere. 1t may yet involve US in war