New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-20

would understand" But how could the
people at home understand while the chief
object Of those governing was 70 suppress
the truth? How could ministry founded
on a lie, owing its existence TO It's success
ful propagation OF falsehood, permit ire
truth 10 become public?
The lie that brought the British nation
TO its gravest crisis in the long years oi
is history has been transplanted 70 ou-
shores The same tribe of politicians are
using the same words and the same ideas
10 delude the American people and to con
vince them that at time when the whole
world has turned 10 arms and force TO
settle the great questions that divide ma
tons and races. the American people can
safely refrain from protecting themselves.
What the Liberal-Labor politicians toiH
England after Tangier, after Bosnia
after Agadir, on the eve Of Armageddon'
Democratic politicians are eagerly teihng
Americans now.
But the lie in Britain was disclosed
The lie in England was exposed, as al lies
are bound to be, and those who were re
snonsible are now at last the objects OF
national anger and contempt. Tney are
one by one being driven into exile. The
process will continue. Their fate Is set
tied. What remains is the fate OF Eng
land. They have brought their country u
the edge Of destruction, they have brought
il 10 the very centre of the whirlwind OF
war utterly destitute Of the means to pro
tect itself. not on sea, although they did
their best. but on land, and 1t is on
land that the fate Of the empire is to be
settled.
What the charlatans and the pacifists
Of honest intent but weak intellect have
cost Great Britain is already incalculabie
whether in life or in treasure. The sarn,
crew almost wrecked France and left her
helpless 10 the storm. Had Germany
struck in 1905 instead Of 1914, or even IN
1911, there would have been no Battle Of
the Marne and no German retreat TO the
Aisne. Thanks TO France and Russia, and
10 the fleet which the Asquith Ministry
undertook TO weaken but did not succeed
in weakening, the British nation has
had time and still has time TO save itself.
And there Is no meaning TO the latest
crisis if it is not the proof that the Brit
ish people mean TO save themselves.
Must we pay the price Of Britain, must
America make the sacrifices of life and
treasure, unnecessary sacrifices, merely
because politicians who direct our govern
ment are too ignorant or too selfish to face
the world conditions of the present hour!
The miserable little Spanish war took its
unnecessary toll of hundreds Of the best
Of American youth because the politicians
were in charge and were satisfied that the
people were unwilling to bear the costs Of
a military establishment. We shall not
escape our part in the world conflagration.
We cannot hope permanently to avoid par
ticipation In world at war. A few
months ago we were wellnigh involved.
Is there no one in Washington big enough
and brave enough to tell the American
people the truth about the conditions now
existing in the world? Must the mistakes
of the British Ministry be slavishly imi
tated? Shall we continue 10 discuss do
nestle concerns when the whole world is
afiame and our very proximity carries
peril?