New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-03
THE PEOPLES COLUMN

rugs the lesson advanced IN the follow
ing quotation:
The mnelc with the people whose
hospitality they are all the time sbus-
irg. They become, TO all appearances,
their friends, are admitted TO their
houses, aud yet are always plotting
against their safety. That is stu
alton which. the moment il is revealed
or suspected, becomes little less than
fatal 10 the normal condolences OF civil
lied intercourse. Spy mania, over
which. dare say. many Americans have
made merry in the last few months, IS
disease incompreheusib TO those
who have not themselves experienced
its rayages l. is a madness of terror
and suspicion. vitiating the whole at
mo- phere, causing cities and whole ma
tions 10 writhc under its snaky touch.
But il is a madness not without cause.
~ German army were landed on
Long Island, and New Workers were TO
disco.or the German manager OF a
Fifth a.. MOTEL with secret wireless
apparatus on his root how, wonder,
would they feel about it? If country
houses in the neigh borhood were found
10 have concrete platforms for the sup
port Of heavy artillery under the gulse
Of tennis courts; if leading men in the
Long Island villages. whose Loyalty had
never for 4 moment been IN question.
were to go out 70 meet the enemy and
act a their guides and place al their
disposal all their stores of local infor-
nation: if letters OF the most innocent
appearance mailed. let us say, IRON
Governors Island were proved to con
tain military Intelligence Of the mos
vital character written under the
stamps, and between harmless looking
photographs and their mounts; Il q
Long Island farmer recognized Al the
head Of the advancing troops a man
who had been for years in his en-
piovmert, and was at once present
cd H. him With list Of the rooms
produce and goods that he was i'm.
mcdratcly to hand over to the in
yadcr, II respected and Well-to-d do
storChccpcr5. manufacturers and resi-
dents turned out to be i'm communica-
ton with the enemy; If unsuspected
cottages we're suddenly 10 reveal their
true character as miniature arsenals
eparcd in advance; ii the fire Of the
German guns or New York were obyi-
ously being directed b. signals from
the city itself; If railway bridges were
mystcriously blown up; if spies we're
caught red-handcd IN the City Hall and
ln the Brooklyn navy yard, and il
every day, in addition TO the horrors
OF warfare, brought fresh evidence that
the advance guards Of the enemy had
i'm effect been encampcd on American
soil long before the actual outbreak OF
hostilities and as part Of methodicaI
syStem Americans, conceive, being a
very human people, would find them
selves in these circumstances b. no
means urmoved."
Il may turn out that the members o.
the German societies who have been 50
iudIsCrcet in their "rcsolutiona' al the
Washington meeting arc OF no more
account than the immortal seven o.
Toolcy Street. that thcy are tailor
rather than terrors. But the press
ought 10 keep an eye OF them and
especially be on the lookout for the
frs. move they make inviting legal in
teryeution. Their relations with repre-
sentstiyes Of the German government
should also be watched. B. J. X.
Nov Hor. Feb 1919