New-York tribune., 1916-02-06
a.. Il,,or of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. The Tribune in recent able edl-
,orial has spoken with somo severity OF the
growing contempt and bitterness" OF h"-
ro,s toward US II cites instances where
France and England failed us in our own
,ost struggIcs for liberty, and invites AmeH-
can, 20 explain America TO the offenders In
terms of European attitude Of the past.
Personally. as one whose ties are stil a.
Iarrely European as American, and VINO ls III
constant correspondence with three OF the
bel,icerent countries, believe this CONTEMPT
and bitterness has been considerably cxag-
gerated but that It does exist Is not to be
denied; it. Is inevitable that 1t should exist
and "growingly'; In that adjective are con.
tained both the explanation and defence oi
Eprope's feeling.
We cannot explain America TO Europe M
terms of any European attitude OF the past,
for tho reason that no European attitude oi
the mast covers the ground whence proceed5
en- much of Contempt and bitterness as We
may concede.
For it was not "our slowness to undcr-
stand" what tho European war meant 10 US
also which brought upon Us this feeling. j.
we look back We shall see that Europe has
come but slowly to the feeling herself.
Dicappointment there was, regret surprise
wonder-a kind Of hurt incredullty-when
America, the great neutral nation OF the
world, failed 70 respond TO what Europe, The
Tribune and some few Americans recognized
AZ once TO be her great and her unexampled
opportunity for world service. But every
American who had large connection and cor
respondence with the belligerent countries at
that time, and ready access to their press,
must recall how many and how generous
were the excuses offered for us. II was
quickly recognized that our people as dif-
ferentisted from our government symps-
thized with the cause Of Belgium and France; ;
it was pointed out that we had great for
eign population, that our internal problems
must necessarily be many and complex; II
was even suggested that we gladly embraced
a neutrality which enabled US to be a better
ally of the Allies than we could have been If
ourselves engaged in hazardous and costly
war. Finally. it was known we were per
fectly unprepared for any war.
Az time went on disappointment certainly
deepened that successive outrages OF inter
national law drew no word from its great
natural defender. Europe, sorely smitten and
struggling, wondered that we could not see
what she saw so clearly with her nearer
vsion--that this was no mere war Of nations
but Of ideals; with for stake, indeed, those
very ideals America exists 70 ernbody
which our forefathers crossed sea, re
nounced a land 70 found land, and pres
emily fought the land they had left, all "un-
prepared" as they were.
As those first fearful weeks Of war went
by, with their deepening record of wounds 70
the very soul Of civilization, Europe's wonder
dcepened, too, and the wonder of American
ru Europe But even then il was not "con-
tempt" nor bitterness; she still cherished our
svmpathy That sympathy was conveyed 20
her largely by our press, serving US splen-
didly. but also by small army Of Americans
who were, indeed, busy day and night then,
nassionately, fercely. almost tearfuly Tex
planning" their country 20 Europe. he press
- their own closed 90 them for they were
not neutraD, they spent themselves IA this
unrewarded service, using their pens for
every purpose on earth except 20 earn a
legitimate income. impelled by this passion
Of their souls to set America right in the
ewes of the world. They dwelt upon the
almost majestic spectacle Of her enforced
neutrality. upou the orderly crowds before
her bulletin boards, the silent audiences 10
her moving picture houses before the war
nictures. obeying the Presidential Injunction;
upon the whole extraordinary tabeau vlvant
e an America wrought almost TO u nervous
fever by the sudden collapsing Of world