Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1915-09-15
GERTRUDE CALLS A SPADE A SPADE

The following entertaining comment in the current issue of the
Literary Digest upon n out of the ordinary a article by that serl-
ing writer, Mrs. Gertrude Atherton, contains 50 much unvarnsled
truth and 81 many OF the things we fail to see in the general run OF
stuff written in these altruisic times that W e reproduce it here for the
benefit OF those who like straight ron the shoulder statements OF
facts al they exist:
1T has already been noted that n o a that history records has
been o prolific in discussion; and probably also none has enlisted Sc
many of the literary fraternity. They have been ardent partzans in
the European struggle, and now that our own counrys questions are
growing acute Mrs. Gertrude Atherton is n OF the first to step ut
from the literary rank into the more public arena. There is almost
the note OF a Machavel in her assertion that Eve must practice abb
solute selishness IS a nation, if we would survive" She also clears
the air OF a good deal of sentiment concerning II feelings of friend
ship for foreign nations based upon what is supposed to De tner good
offices toward us "We are indebted to all the Older nations OF Europe
for our mental, artistic and scientific inheritance. exactly as all the
world is indebted to them, and n o more" There is a straight shoulder
thrust in her next statement that personally, W W them nothing
for there isn't one that hasn't taken advantage of IL weakness when
she has had a chance" Whatever feeling we may ave wei or france
must be credited to pure good will. Mrs. Atherton brings to bear
Alexander IIami1ton's testimony upon the Lafayette episode in these
words; -! n primary moWe Oh france ir INC as" :" s@l
us was, obviously, to enfeebe a hated and powerful rival. A second
motive was to extend her relations OF commerce in the New World
and to acquire additional security for her possessions there by forming
a connection with this country when detached from Great Britain
Once only, she declares, England acted the part of a friend:
During our w a with Spain, when Germany tried to form a Euro
pean coalition against Us, she wa foied by England. Moreover, Lord
Salisbury brought his heavy hand down N the British press, which
n cav ssnnnsr, ow,rd Era1,rd has undsroons !, cbana in oar
But the plain truth OF the matter is that England thought it was time
to make a friend OF usand with her matchess diplomacy extended her
hand at precisely the right moment
"Not that this is mean in criticism of England. a country TO which
l have the deepest respect and affection, as indeed have for France.
| merely wish to emphasize that there is n o such thing as friendship
among nations, that there re only alliances which rarely outive the
strain of a war, and that all NATIONS are utterly and undeviatinsly sell
fish. Otherwise they could not exist. An individual may practise
atruism and survive (perhaps), but never a nation. Therefore, let
" no revilc England for placing cotton on the contraband list We
should do the same thing, o be laughed ata dotards if we did not.
But the time for sentiment OF all kind has passed. II is abso-
lutely necessary that Americans and especially American women, who
WELD SO powerful an influence, should accept codbooded facts, have
done with shams~ What is the matter with these club-women that are
Historically preaching Peace at any price? Are they all old MAIDS
or barren widows? Don't they know that if they persuade young lei
that it is wrong to defend their country they arr rendering them INIT
for all the sterner duties of life? A fine husband and father would a
man make who was too cowardy OF too supine to fight or his country,
and who vas incapable of a thrill at the sight OF his flag!
Moreover, it is impossible to drill into the heads of these women
that w e may be at a any minute. Germany has n o desire to add
rs to the sum of her enemiesbut she sank the Arabic to prevent the
contemplated loan of $5OOO0OO. of possibly Sl00OOO0 to England.
If there is to be a immense Governmentbond emission for defenses.
naturally we a not lend money to England. Germany will get out
of this last indignny just as she has got out OF former ofenses, but
she accompanies her purpose OF long periods of uncertainty, during
which W. anticipate war and hold on to or money. If she pledges
herself to sink n o more Amero ans. rest assured she will find some
other "a of making us draw back and hold Il breath when once
more the doors Of II banks are hesianty opening And she may 10
it once too often.
of the war, it is the extraordinary ignorance of u people OF history
in general and United States h story in particular. One ardent pro-
German even informed me soei lny upon n occasion that Great
Britain had EARNED her line Of forts along the Canadian frontier
When told her that all forts ~ere 1eve1ed in 1915, after the Treaty
OF Client, she a mortified, b intensely surprised! could write
N entertaining article composed of similar bunders and not all OF
them by women, nor all of then emanations from deliberate prepa-
ganda But this is a fair sampi ,"
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