New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-15

there be any misapprehension Of The
gravity OF the peril and Of the SER
business Of the crisis which VIII date
from the hour on which Count Won
Bernstorf bestows a victory upon Mr..
Wilson. No American newspaper or
citizen who believes in the things for
which France and Great Britain are
fighting in Europe should miss the
point that the victory Mr. Wilson Is
now 10 obtain is & .ctory only IN sp-
pearGnce; victory for America only
in words, and a triumph for Germany
in fact. which inevitably and ineNora-
bly, involves US OF the German side OF
the great European contest.
Mr.. Wilson's foreign policy has now
brought the United States 20 the gray
est crisis since the Civil Va. We
are on the point Of entering inc world
war-by notes, be understood-as
the agent and tool Of the Gcuasns.
" @ are about TO ask Great Britain, Tor
the benefit Of few traders of our
own. for the sake OF few America
dollars. TO modify her blockade, 20 the
great and permanent benefit OF the
nation which has murdered our women
and children without pity and without
paiiaton.
This Great Britain viii never do.
This France will never do. u we
merely insist upon this by notes, they
will fling us back notes, and 0niy
despiee las a. "a nation which values
its dollars above its lives. But d.. as
q result OF rev political necessities
Sir. y Isou c driven by CONGRESS, by
Democratic politicians and by Bern
stora 90 eort 20 force or 30 the sdg-
gcstion Of force. We shall come race
70 acc with Great Britain. Russia.
italy. Japan and France. We shai'
come fac, 20 face with Canada. when
has under tents more men In arms
than we could get together IN mon.ha.
Yet war is only the Tcmotest posi-
t.lty. The real question is whether me
American people will be reconcl ed'
even temporarily. 10 dpioM"llc
triumph over Germany, 20 the receipt
Of ii scrap OF paper winch carries WIN
il promise Of harvest Of present e'll
and permanent peril. victory which
will create a bitterness which VIII out
last any man now alive and leave the
United States isolated ~ woiid OF
armed nations who not only dls-ikc Us
hut cherish a grievance against Us.
The dav Count Won BcrnstorN bnngS
20 the state Department MS victory Tor
Mr.. Wilson over his OWa government
secured ly the German Ambas ~acor, We
Shall be launched upon a campaign
against Great Britain and France; we
shall become Jon fact, however B..
he disguised IN phrase. the agents Of
Germany. subsidizcd by Bernstorh 5
successful psndering TO the. political
necessities Of the Wilson admlmstra-
lion. which believes that All chance OF
rc-cicction depends upon this victory
Men IN public life in Washington dis
agree al. 10 how far the new crisis may
carr ls. They do not disagree as TO
us possibilities or a. 10 inc certainty
hat the crisis be almost upon Us. Ihey
recognize that the United states IS
about TO be caught in Count von. Bern
storT's net. They realize that the ma,
zion which murdered our women ana
children is now about 10 use our al
ministration and our diplomacy 70 us
o,y, ends. and to our bitter cost
Washington realizes that an admins.
ration which wa too proud 20 nght,
for American lives is now about 20 RISK
The pose.bntv Of wa for American
collars. because as previous folly mas
..i. . uapcr victory orc. Germany -
matter OF political lie and death Tor H.