New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-17
NEUTRALITY BEST POLICY
Otherwise We Help Belligererts to
Get Where They Can Hurt Us.


Sir: On your editorial page Of the 9th
inst noticed the interesting heading "Neu-
tralty a Blunder." Such might be the words
of hyphenated American, but from one who
claims to uphold the best interests of this
country the statement is truly surprising.
Our friend Mr. Hobbs is certainly inclined
to Jump at conclusions when he says Russia
may probably be defeated; and goes on that
Germany may win-and what then? Ger
many supreme in Europe!" Undoubtedly
the German Empire is at the height of its
power Why, then, make the supposition
that Germany may win when the Allies are
steadily becoming more effective both on
land and sea; when Constantinople is with
in a few months of falling, and when the
world expects an Allied offensive?
Miltarism is bad thing; even pro-
Germans admit it. But if militarism is bad
what about navalsm as concerns the Eng
lish? England's navy has been a menace to
Spain. Holland, France, the United States
and now Germany. 1t has always waged war
against another power whose commerce has
threatened to Guido its own (England's).
England so long as she is mistress of the
seas" must be reckOned with as very i'm
portant world power. AS directly concerns
US, nayalism at the present time is more
tc be feared than militarism, especially
when we must protect the Panama Canal
and our possessions and ourselves with
navy unfit to accomplish this important
task.
England's navy threatened us in the War
of 1912 and practically drove our commerce
from the seas. She again insulted US in
the Civil War by running our blockade and
openly siding with the South besides build
ing warships for the Confederates and using
them against us. We have heretofore always
been friends with Germany, while scarcely
decade has passed when we have not been
at odds with our ".ovable mother country"
because she presumed to dictate TO con-
corning our actions. She has just recent
ly declared cotton contraband of war, moth
ing less than dehance-a GROWING insult;
and although she sent powerful squadron
to escort the ships laden with English
gold. she cared so little about American
lives that she never even sent one ship
with them. In saying this it must not be
understood that | uphold the sinking of the
Lusitania, Arabic and the Hesperan; it was
not in the least justified; yet upon these
grounds alone we have no reasonable excuse
for making war or even severing our diplo'
matte relations.
Mr. Hobbs tells US that Germany hates and
fears US on account of our larger commerce.
Germany does not hate nor does she fear
for haya nnf hay vel had
a commerce larger than Germany's.
1t is none of our business if Germany sue
ceeds in securing Canada, but after Germany
has it then it is our business to watch
out. But if England were at the Panama
Canal then it would be our immediate
business Why, then, take sides and
strengthen either one, for by so doing we
would in the end be helping them to get
where they might seriously cripple US? Why
not let the fools fight 1t out?
MIR Hobbs declares 1--WE need not declare
war nor put armies in the field, for doing
50 would do the Allies more harm than
good; we should then be Englands cats
paw against Germany! For naturally, &C
cording 10 Messrs. Churchill, Grey and
Asquith, Britannia IS never wrong, her ac-
tons must never be questioned, whatever
she does is for the best interests of human
ity. We Americans are supposed TO believe
all this trash and nonsense, and | am be-
ginning TO think that some OF US really
do. Mr. Hobbs even refers TO the Allies
as our Allies. VIVA. an optimst!
England, the past century, has grown 70
envy us more and more because we are rich
and resourceful, and because we have the
Panama Canal. Then we should help Eng
land when she wants US to, because she