New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-21
STANDING BY THE PRESIDENT.
4 Discussion of Present Patriotic
Duties Of Americans.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The splendid outburst of sentiment
in support of President Wilson's model letter
to the German nation has thus far been
nearly everything that could be desired
| Even q distinguished gentleman very close tc
/ the head of the wicked and pernicious Amer
lean sic) League to Limit Armaments' has
publicly said that he Stands by the Presi-
dent"
Now, let the American people and editors
and Congressman at large search thelI
hearts and let each man ask himself: How
much will / stand by the PRESIDENT?
| Let US capitalize the present outburst OF
| feeling and see just what it is worth in
| littleness easily can be expressed in figures
/ In the arming of a nation money is the yery
/ first weapon that must be grded on. By the
| digits and the ciphers of it the world quickly
learns the wealth or the poverty of a COM
blatant, or it may be the meanness and the
parsimony Of spirit that shrlnks from max
! ing real sacrifices for national honor
! How much Is this great, wealthy. prosper
ous nation willing to stand by the President
Last December and January | begged and
| nplored the National Security League to
pack a committee in demanding of Congress
| 100000, 900 worth Of national defence bonds
| for the extra expenditures that should be
made on our national defences in 1915 The
executive committee of the league was liter
ally scared out of its wits by the idea, and IT
| is equally so to-day Then put the matter
| before Congress and the people in letter
that appeared in The Tribune and four other
great newspapers. Every Senator received a
copy and every Cabinet officer
| Did it arouse any interest? Did the public
respond 90 the idea? Not one atom. The
appeal might as well have been made to the
fishes of the briny deep. Congress made
some trivial increases strongly opposed
meanwhile by the League to Limit Arma-
ments- and many persons iattered them
selves that great deal of ice had been cut
Then came the Lusitania. Then came the
great slap in the face, great jolt, and the
awakening of the American people. 1t took
more than one hundred American lives TO
awaken the millions of America who were
stupidity sleeping in FOOLS paradise.
Money talks. How much are Americans
willing TO stand by the President"? Wili
We give him an army and a navy that Is ade-
quate to be sent forth to battle against a
real power? or will we leave him kandi-
capped by weakness in both arms? How
much are you willing to ask your Congress
man to appropriate for Increased defences?
In December, 1914, started with 100000
600 year for five years The LusItania has
shown the need 10 increase the call TO $780,
100000 year for three years. which Is abou'
as much as could be annually expended to
good advantage We observe that the Navy
League is asking for $500, 1000 600 for the navy
alone. and we hope they will get it. In view
Of the awful coast lines and colonies that we
have lying open to assault the amount is not
too great
The safety OF Americans on the high seas
and in Mexico. the Monroe Doctrine and the
honor of the nation among the civilized ma
tions Of the earth, all are now at stake.
Will We defend them or not?
We must now name our figures and either
put up or shut up.
WILLIAM T. HORNADAY
New York. May 49, 1915.