New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-07
MIR. WILSON'S SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY
Readers Conception Address His Cotymen "h" u"
President L Nov in a Position to Make

wrong might still makes right, and only
,bos. nations can survive who are prepared
and have the armies and the fleets 70 pfo'e''
them. It
"At present we have no army worthy tne
mama and feet only in the making; we
have amassed more than third OF ths
worlds wealth and have gained the hstreo
and envy OF most nations in consequence. ne
advice OF Washington TO avoid entangilhg
alliances was wise at the time, and his opln-
ion Of the danger Of the nation relying on
militia and hired soldiers Is as sound no" as
then: but times have changed, and nations
like individuals, must have friends whose
aims and ideals harmonic with their own ana
whose civilization rests on a similar fouhda-
ton. SO
9TH, war has created alliances which,while
somewhat incongruous nevertheless are pow
erful, and, unless all signs fail, will be main
tanned for some years 20 come. But we stand
alone like China, save with this great diner
ence. that she Is poor and undeveloped, while
our Golfers are filled TO overfowing and are
about as easy to plumber by well prepared
enemy as China has been by those who have
despoied her.
"The Monroe Doctrine, 70 dear 10 our hearts.
will be nut to the test with the ending of the
war. and unless we are prepared to defend it
either by an alliance or by force it will cease
70 have any meaning-then Mexico will be
dealt with by those powers TO whom she IS IN
debt, our protest 10 the contrary notwltn-
standing These are some OF the facts and
conditions which confront us and must be
met and dealt with.
"The time for temporizing has gone by and
the moment for action arrived. II we are 20
maintain our independence and become ma
ton in fact as we'll as in name, national unity
and patriotism must take the place OF indi-
vidualism and selfshness; and love OF ease
and craving for wealth must give way to self
sacrifice and duty to country, and the nations
of the world must be made TO realize that
this nation will NOT fight only for humanity
but for its honor, self-respect and indepen-
dence as well. No people can survive or be-
come q nation who have not national aim,
national spirit unity and patriotism, and for
the maintenance OF which the citizen is will
ing to subordinate himself TO his duty and
obligation to his government, and no govern
ment can survive that has not the power to
control its citizens and call them TO Its ser
vice for its maintenance and defence
Looking back at the history Of other ma
tons, we find that with scarcely an exception
only muse nave ouIfiFeu hhoSc tlbiHcho nav
placed love of country, unity of action and
patriotism above selfish individual aims and
acquiring the mighty dollar.
81 feel therefore that the moment has come
when we as a nation must give serious
thought TO our shortcomings and the dangers
which confront US and seek the means to
overcome and avert them.
"Let US begin therefore with our boys and
teach them that love for their country and
patriotism come first, followed by discipline,
order and obedience to higher authority
and the giving Of one year Of their young
manhood to the service Of the nation. This
would be the most democratic solution OF our
problem Of preparedness-and the only sure
one on which the nation could rely, bringing
together under the same flag and the same
authority the sons Of the rich and poor, the
Teuton and the Anglo-Saxon and teaching
them that allegiance to the Stars and Stripes
Is the first requisite 70 citizenship and the
only foundation on which our future can rest
securely"
These are few Of the ideas which many
Of Mr.. Wilson's we'll wishers believe he will
express, and by so doing will win for himself
the stanch support Of the great majority Of
the people and prove TO those who have OPP
posed him politically that he is statesman
of the highest order the nation has produced.
CHAS. S. BRYAN.
. New York, Dec. 4, 1915