New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-14
AMERICAS RESPONSIBILITY IN THE WAR
Power Assure Complete Victory Over the Most
Ruthless Despot That Ever Tried to Crush the World

breath to spare or to waste expanding it
in maledictions on the United States. For
on both sides it will be known, it will not
be questioned. that it has been our attitude
that has made necessary this inconclusve,
this actually cruel and atrocous peace, that
has prevented the carrying through Of the
war TO a decision which could insure per-
manent peace Had we done what the Ger
man people demanded of us the complete
victory for Germany would have been as
sured. Had we taken up the gage so many
times flung in our face, the complete VIC
tory of the Allies would have been assured.
But we, with the future OF civilization, TO
say nothing of our own future, at stake, chose
10 remain neutral. By so doing We won
for ourselves the hatred of one set of COM
batants and the scorn of the other In the
new frenzy of militarism that will follow
the partial victory of Germany the United
States will be involved, and our place and
our fate in the inevitable ensuing conflict
cannot be foretod. But as surely as that
conflict takes place shall we have to pay
our toll of misery and blood and tears-and
it will be heavier than any that would be
exacted of US now if we did our proper part.
How, indeed, can there be any question that
it is the duty of this country 10 itself and
TO mankind to its children and its children 5
children, to range itself definitely on the
right side? I hear the interrogation, What
could we do more than We are doing now
refuse TO believe that this great nation,
actively taking part in war for the liberia
ton of humanity, a war in which her soul
is already enlisted, could not or would not
do more than she is doing now. To me it is
beyond doubt that if she threw her weight
into the scale the balance would come true
If the Allies are completely victorious
without our aid, we shall have nothing TO
fear from them except their contempt. But il
becomes less and less probable that the
Allies will achieve a complete victory without
our aid. Shall we then sit passive, in our
selfish and fancied security and isolation
careless whether the butchering Teutons and
Turks extermnate the rest of mankind? We
have felt that owed no duty to Belgium,
70 France, 10 the Armenians; is it possible
that we too blind TO see what is our i'm
perative duty to ourselves?
President Wilson has succeeded in keeping
this country out of war, and has received for
this the commentator of the unthinking
viii not the verdict Of posterity be that just
because of his determination I maintain a
peaceful, neutral attitude when civilization
was fighting for its life he showed himself
a man of short and narrow vision7
There is one man living to-day who uas
it absolutely in his power to provide that
civilization as we know it and believe in il
shall not perish-shall not be overwhelmed
by the most terrible, ruthless, despotic tyr
amy that has ever cursed and tried TO
crush the world. That man is the President
of the United States. Should he break of
diplomatic relations with Germany by reason
Of that nations partnership in the Armenian
atrocities or for any other reason whatsoever
and there are reasons enough he would
perform the greatest service to humanity
that any man now has it in his power to
perform. II is true that without any help
from him civilization may triumph. But is
he justified will history justify him, in taking
what is after all a gamblers chance, and
while seeming TO play safe, actually exposing
his people and those who are of kindred
ideas TO a peril greater than any that has yet
threatened them?
ARTHUR STANWOOD PIER.
Milton, Mass, Oct IL, 1915