The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-05-07
II Mot Absurd. rhen Worse.

The Bennington Banner thinks
The Messenger was unfair when it
ventured to say that The Fatherland,
New York publication devoted L,
the task of obtaining fair play for
Germany and Austria Hungary had
by its excuses destroyed its power
to do evil This paper was even
made so bold to say that the tactics
OF The Fatherland were absurd.
Nor does it find any reason to
change its mind following a reading
of the current issue OF that publica-
ton. Selections from the leading ar
ticle in this number. entitled, "The
Work of Grape Juice are now sub
mitted and the decision is left to the
public;
Because the British ambassador
was busy issuing instructions to the
American ambassador in London,
Secretary Bryan had TO reply TO
Count Bernstorffs note himself. 1t is
true that Mr. Wilson assisted him
and that it took both these distn-
guished gentlemen more than three
weeks to concoct some excuse FOL
their surrender of the United States
government OF Great Britain. Never
theless Mr.. Bryans answer is abso-
lutely untainted by reason, A
silier or more dishonest statement
was mover issued by an American OF
cial In fact, the reply OF the ad-
ministration to Count Bernstorff 10
the most dishonest document II
was ever submitted by one great gov
ernmefft to another II was not
merely a slap in the face OF the Ger
man people but slap in the face of
truth
Surely that is going some. isn't it,
brother Banner? Isn't it rather nen-
trail. after all. to refer to a publiea-
ton which states that the President
of the United States is party to
dishonest, dishonorable sneaking
act; isn't it more neutral than any
thing else to refer to such a publica-
| ton as absurd instead OF using
tronger and more applicable adj
iectiye? The inference from this
one paragraph alone is that the adj
ministration has surrendered itself
| to the British government and that
our officials at Washington act only
when British officials are busy order
ing our representative in London
J a ound II that isn't stupid it is
something worse But The Messenger
| is neutral and refrains.
Moreover, such statements as the
| following sound absurd TO The Mes
senger: 1T is true that Count Bern
storff might have scrutnized the en-
tire conduct OF the administration
without finding one consistent policy
| except ill-concesled malice toward
! Germany and her allies Count
Bernstorff cannot have impugned the
good faith of the United States for TIE
| simple reason that good faith on the
| part of the United States in its rela-
tions with Germany is a thing that
does not exist" United States an
| active ally of Great Britain IF this
| is inappropriate then diplomatic re-
lations between Germany and the
! United States might as well cease at
| once
Somehow or other when The Mes
| senger reads such things it cant get
W and give its college yell for the
publication which is uttering them.
| 1t may be unfair to feel this way.
| but if it is, an outraged world will
have to make the best of it, But to
return to the original proposition
Doesn't The Banner think such state
| ments are absurd? And doesn't it
think that inyective such as is here
ointed out defeats its own purpose
| The Messenger viii take the long
end Of a loo to ! shot that the editor
of The Banner isn't ashamed OF be-
ing an American just because The
Fatherland tells him he ought to be.
| st. Adams Messenger.