New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-21
President and People.

President ana eOPie'
The pathway of duty and Of honor fol
the Government of the United States Is
too clear to require further discussion
The rising tone of a whole nation leaves
no room for doubt or hesitation. Already
in single dav it has become Automatic
that all diplomatic and friendly relations
with Germany must be terminated. The
mere association with murderers has be-
come a thing impossible for Americans.
But in the brief time which must neces
earily precede the final steps, in the perioc
which will not and should not be prolonged
beyond the hours necessary to procure the
formal Authorization of the essential fact
there are two things that must be clearly
kept in mind.
Recent events have indicated the pres
ence in this country of a full nest OF
traitors and tools of the German govern
ment. The alliance of Hell and the Hy
pbens has been disclosed busy at the con
genial task Of poisoning the wells OF
public information and endeavOring &c
assassinate the reputation of American
citizens whose prime offence lay in their
patriotism.
All this artillery Of treason will now
be concentrated upon Mr.. Wilson. Every
method known to the agents of a nation
whose efficiency in murder is only ex-
ceeded by It's thoroughness in the propaga-
ton of sedition will be employed to pre-
vent the President from performing the
duty which is ineluctable. Mr.. Wilson has
already been hbelled, slandered, insulted
by the German propagandsts. This cam
paign of SANDER will now be redoubled.
It is therefore the obvious and the first
duty Of every American citizen, laying
aside all considerations of party politics
and of factional politics. to give to the
President that support which is rghtfully
mis- in the present crisis. Politics must anC
will give way to patriotism.
Nor is it less incumbent upon Mr.
Wilson to penetrate the efforts OF TIT
agents Of Germany who will strive to befo(
the issue and thus give to the clear ant
unmistakable voice Of the American peOpl
a vague and uncertain ring. Perceiving tn
confidence and the support which his coun
trymen give him, Mr. Wilson must equally
clearly recognize what they expect of hin
and what alone will insure to him Ameri
can respect and approval.
Within a few days the situation vii
develop in which it will be possible Il
deal with domestic treason as it SHOULD
be dealt with. The time is not far dis
tant when the shrill cries of Deutschland
uber Allies" will be drowned by the voice!
of millions Of Americans giving assur
ance of their allegiance to their own ma
ton and of their continued fidelity to thu
ideas and ideals which have made Amer
lea strong in the years that have gone be
fore. But until that time comes 1t IS
patriotic duty Of the President and Of th'
American people to defeat all treasonabl'
and alien purposes by keeping clearly IL
mind the conditions and the facts of th'
present problem.
We have done with Germany. All bu
the formal steps have been taken to sep
81 arate us from the country whose states
men have made murder a governmental
policy and neutral American citizens th'
targets for German torpedoes. We art
done with notes, explanations; we are done
with words altogether. What is to be done
will be done promptly, fearlessly, finally.
But in the mean time, as Americans, The
President and his fellow cOuntrymer
should understand each other wholly anC
should act in the full light of perfect
mutual confidence and comprehension
The day of the Hyphen is over-the day
of the American has come.
To Reduce Laws DELAYS.