New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-10

Belgium The drowning Of one hundred
unarmed American men, women and chill
dren in the Atlantic was after all not
in the same category of crime and horror
as the murder and torture of tens of thou
sands of Belgian men, women and children
for no other offence, as we now know rom
Germanys own mission, than that her men
attempted hastily to form themselves into
irregular SQUADS to resist the invaders
right which by the martial law of all nations
every civilian is bound to exercise. The
government OF the United States protested
against the Lusitania outrage. The gov
eminent of Germany thinks that the pro-
test in part at least, ostensiby made in
the interests of humanity, was really made
only in the interest of'American citizens.
Since Germany has admittedly taken the
initiative in violating not one but score,
indeed nearly all, of the recognized rules of
international law. is it now open TO the
United States, while remaining neutral, TO
demonstrate with Great Britain for any
sonable humane measures she may take in
self-defence? Are not these measures, in
other words, now legitimate? Can the
United States protest, then, on merely legal
grounds? Let us not be led astray by the
term neutrality" If the large majority of
the American people believe, as they appear
to believe, that the moral issues of this war
are clearly on the side of the Allies, then
they cannot any longer plead the principle
of bare legal neutrality. Much less let US
be led astray by the principle of paciicism,
well meant though it clearly is Let the
pacifist recognize that Great Britain is fight
ing in this war for one thing, or perhaps
two things the integrity of international
law and lasting peace for Europe. Alike
on grounds Of self-interest and human peace,
she is compelled to fight.
Let me again beg the American people
TO keep their senses steadily trained On the
moral issues of this war, and the issues are
now all moral. The Serbian question has
long since disappeared from the horizon.
Even Germany surely no longer has any keen
hopes of ultimate territorial or trade ag-
grandizement That she claims to be fight
ing solely from motives of self-defence is
surely an admission of that fact. 1t is
doubtful even if the United States can take
issue with Great Britain economic
grounds The worst that could happen as
the result of the British blockade Order in
Council is some measure of displacement
of capital. But that is bound to happen
in any case. Has the United States really
any right on commercial grounds to insist
upon forcing her commodities into the Ger
man market? The Allies are willing to pur-
chase all American traders have to offer at
prices much higher than ordinary peace
prices. That purely commercial interests in
the United States are not suffering seriously
is surely shown by the fact that the balance
of trade with Europe has risen rapidly in
Americas favor since the beginning of the
war May we not justly ask, therefore, if
the government of the United States would
h. aI in frat
Great Britain for any Legitimate measures
she may take in self-iefence in order that
American traders may be permitted to reap
an abnormal profit from the war which they
themselves at the same time profess to
abhor?
The only serious remaining issue, there
fore, seems to be a purely moral one. and
what is that issue? Simply ills: shall any
one nation by force of arms be permitted
to exercise the right Of paramount inter
rational sovereignty? Shall Germany be per-
mitted to establish military hegemony in
Europe as Prussia has established a mill
tary hegemony in the German Empire? Shall
the nations of the world consent to group
themselves in the form of a military pyra-
mid with the strongest at the apex and all
the others ranging themselves downward in
the order of military prowess' Do the anti
military minded pacifsts contemplate this
conclusion with equanimity?
In your article you wisely warn the peo-
pie OF Great Britain lest they misapprehend
the strength of American opinion on eco
omic grounds. Let me venture just as wisely
to warn the people of the United States
lest they misapprehend the strength of Brit
ish opinion on moral grounds. Let me re-
peat. Great Britain cannot help fghting.
There is not sound practical principleI
OF international law and the right Of human