New-York tribune., 1916-02-17

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: We are on the eve Of Presidential cleo
tion Of immense and enduring Importance
Ir my judgment the issue which VIII nave
the largest appeal to the imagination OF our
countrvmen on the second Tuesday OF next
November will be whether this great nation
il in its foreign relations to be niue OF
greater America.
This question cannot be avoided. Many o.
our leaders. proceeding with great caution
along the lines OF cxpediency, may at
tcupt TO eliminate from the coming Presi-
Dental campaign the foreign policy of our
covernment OF NJ least 20 conine its discus
sion 10 the cowardly and mbccle policy OF
tho Administration with reference 10 Mexico.
To attcmpt this course would be not merely
10 initiate the folly OF the ostrcn' put u
would be altogether futile. II the RepuDh-
can party should he silent upon this SUBJECT
tho electorate would naturally assume tha'
the policv Of the Administration had been so
clearly iustifable as 10 be beyond party criu-
cisln; and II. as now Gems likely Tie pres
emf world war is still in progress next No
vcmbcr. there might be conservative dispo-
sition on the part Of the American people 70
maintain in power an administration whose
guidance Of the nation in one Of thc storm
lest crises Of human history was thus appar-
emily beyond attack or criticism.
/ The Democratic Administration will proba-
bly elect 20 stand or fall upon this question
Of its foreign policy II will make its cher
claim 20 continuance in power that IT has
kept us out OF war in world wide cyclone.
The Republican party. dedicated from its
very birth 10 the loftest ideals OF govern
ment must therefore meet ,hs issue and
challenge the judgment Of the American peo-
ple as TO whether in this respect the Demo
cratic Administration should receive vote
Of confidence.
/ II does no. follow that the issue should
turn upon those peculiarly European ques-
tons upon which primarily the responsibility
for the present world war depend. In view
Of our long detachment from Europe. it Is in
conceivable that Presidential campaign in
America could be conducted upon questions
which grow out Of and intimately concern
the balance Of power in Europe. But, apart
| from these peculiarly European questions,
! this world war involves questions Of vital and
enduring importance to the whole society Of
nations The poace and order Of civilization
are at stake Great principles OF interna-
tonal law have been brought into question.
and unless we are 70 regard ourselves rs a
hermit nation. Ike China, we must freely and
brsvely recognize the fact that this country
has also a vital stake in the maintenance of
those basic rights OF civilization without
which there would be an inevitable retrogres-
/ sion % the savage anarchy Of the Dark Ages.
Not only has our nation as one of the fam
/ ily Of nations. inalienable rights. but II there
/ be a commonwealth OF civilization, and if the
solidarity Of humanity be something more
! than an empty rhetorical phrase. then this
country has duties and responsibilities as
we'll a rights. The serious question which
every thoughtful American will consider next
! November will be. Has the United states
| in this grayest crisis Of modern history done
its full duty TO civilization?
/ In answering this question the American
people will recognize lamentsble sad sig
world war we we're the common friend
Of every nation and enjoyed meas
IRE Of goodwill such as no other nation has
probably ever enjoyed in recorded history,
yet to-day our nation has fallen immessura-
/ bly, in the esteem Of mankind. Perhaps IT is
not 100 much to say that We nave now the
hatred Of one group Of powers and me con
tempt Of another. As the moral prestige Of a
nation is its greatest asset. this extraordinary
bouleversment in the worlds attitude toward
our nation is the most significant and por-
b -.
7 The average American accepts the Monroe
Doctrine as virtually drawing a longitudinal
line around the world. as Pope Alexander Vi