New-York tribune., 1916-05-29

the Lusitana but that so many OF their own
fellow citizens have been asked to make the
supreme sacrifice to forward this selfish pur-
pose. Or, to quote what is given as an ex-
tract from the letter OF a wounded French
soldier, "Such killing was never known IN
all the world and to crafty one man."
If the foregoing is convincing to justify the
title of "The Hohenzollern War" and to sup
port the statement that there is here, in
truth, war between democracy and autoc-
racy, the American policy cannot be consist
ent with its past and with the genius Of
American institutions unless Il places itself
with equal courage and wisdom against the
perpetuation and enlargement Of feudal au-
tocracy in modern times
The Central German empires are not alone
as examples of autocracy. Autocracy in mod
ern times is a highly composite affair, repre-
sentng not the will of one person, as in the
age Of small things and small populations,
but a great cooperative enterprise in which
the interests of many persons, actuated by
the variously selfish motives of pride, am
btion and avarice, are grouped about the
hereditary autocrat. Such propensitles are
great human faults and will test all the CO.
operation of all the lovers Of liberty every
where who can be found and brought to unit
ed effort
The first practical step in such an Ameri-
can policy is frank alliance of defensive
character with the British Empire and France,
the outstanding democracies. our nearest con-
geners and historically associated with US in
the development of free institutions.
Such policy, to be practical, should carry
with it agreement as to the maintenance OF
co6perative military establishments for NUT
L,ob .ba nj Cd States wOuld
contribute a part worthy Of its greatness and
high aims.
MANY circumstances combine to urge such
= policv. The undefended boundary line be-
tween the United States and Canada is one.
Another is the fine tradition of zone Hum
dred Years of Peace" during which period,
more than once, and especially during this
past year. this country has been the bene-
fciary Of the protection of the British fleet.
We would be doing a creditable thing 10
admit that these 100 years Of peace have
been 100 years Of "sponging'; for 1t IS
hardly conceivable that the Monroe Doctrine
could have been maintained by such a navy
as we have had. without the good VIII OF
Great Britain.
This is not an "entangling alliance The
advice to avoid such contemplated the IN
trigues and wars of the European monarchles
of 100 years ago. This alliance, instead, rec
ognizes the essential unity Of the like-minded
and the practical need Of union among those
who are minded TO uphold free institutions.
If. then. this is in fact Hohenzollern war
il appears that the true American policy Is
TO seek suitable alliance for the purpose
Of defending and Of promoting along the his
torical lines Of our Anglo-Saxon develop
ment the representative institutions upon
which alone. in our opinion, can be built the
structure Of individual liberty and happiness;
and the English speaking peoples and France
united are well able TO make this strong
hold of democracy impregnable.
Also on the same basis OF reasoning, no
neace can be deemed satisfactory that leaves
The hostile power of feudalsm unbroken. So
Great sacrifice of life and happiness OF in
dividual men. women and children will have
hem made in vain resistance unless the ag-
gressors are finally overwhelmed and stripped
Of mower. A capital crime against society is
punishable with social extinction
LANDRETH Fl. KING.
Nsu York. Nav l8, 1915.