The Washington times., 1915-11-22
THE ADMINISTRATIONS REAL
RESPONSIBILITY

IL Is more than year since this
paper began to urge that Congress
ought to be summoned to Washing
ton in advance Of its regular ses-
sion, because Of the situation pre-
cipitated by the war. It was not
summoned. When it came, in the
regular course Of events, a year
ago, 1t found no policy Of under
standing, Of firm grasp, Of prepared
ness. and Of determined purpose
awaiting It in the pronouncements
from the executive branch Of the
Government. The session passed
without any real awakening Of
either Administration. Congress or
the country to the gravity Of the
situation in which American inter-
ests were even then involved and
liable at any time to be much more
seriously concerned.
Not until the Lusitania affair had
compelled recognition Of conditions
did this country get its eyes open to
its peril. That happened more than
a half year ago. Since then we have
seen one after another Of reckless
repetitions Of the same performance.
the credit of the United States sag
ging progressively. We have seen
plots against the peace and dignity
and industry Of the nation organized
and directed by aliens on our soil,
and yet nothing has been accom-
plished to convince anybody that
this nation realizes It's dues to civil
ization, its obligations to it's own
self-respect. Our Government did
not protest against the rape of Bel
gium, in the beginning; its policy
has been one Of progressive weak
ening ever since, until it Is small
wonder that nobody from Carranza
to the Kaiser deems It necessary to
take the United States seriously.
Now, sixteen months after the
time when steps toward real pre-
paredness should have been taken,
the Government is urging begin
nings that ought TO have been
wrought into accomplishments be-
fore this date. We are about to be.
gin talking about the things we
should have been doing for more
than a year. England has had time
to build an army of three million
men in that period. We have sat
idle. Our international importance
has been sacrificed, our capacity to
arouse ourselves and get into action
has come to be doubted. We have
permitted the horrors Of Belgium
the wholesale murders on the high
seas, the waste of precious month
after month without effort to pre-
pare even for protecting ourselves.
At this late date. with this recort
Of failure to appreciate its respon
sibilities, the country is asked to bt
satisfied with a dubious beginning
in the tardy business Of prepara
ton. OF preparation for what? Fol
another year Of sacrificing the ma
tional se!f-respect, Of fatuousnes!
in our diplomatic endeavors, Of di
minishing effort to enforce our de
mands, of submission to outrage'
systematically planned and executed
right on our own soil?
Small wonder that Congressman
Mann insists that the preparedness
program of the new Congress mus
be more than a party affair; that h
insists it be framed by wider in
telligence and more vigorous un
derstanding than have guided tn
development Of national policies an
sentiments from the beginning o
the war to this time. The Nationa
Administration has a heavy respon
sibility for the waste of time an
opportunity, for the loss Of nationa
prestige, for the sacrifice of Amerl
can position in the great world.