New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

but conspirator against the peace OF
the United States. by permitting his en-
bassv TO be made the centre for plots OF
sedition and disorder. He has permitted
his subordinates to act against American
interests and defy American laws.
Count Won BernStorif has done all TINS
and more because he is convinced that
Mr.. Wilson does not dare to disturb him'
He knows that he is hated by the present
Administration. but he knows also that he
is feared. He knows that he is feared as
the master of some millions of German
American votes and the director of the
policv of many Gcrman-Amcrican news
napers. He has traded in the cowardlce
and the political approximations of Mr.
Wilson and his advisers for eight months,
and he has SO far proven that he has been
right in his estimates.
Now he is trying to drive Mr.. Wilson
and Mr.. Lansing into a bargain over the
German submarine outrages. He believes
that Mr.. Wilson is SO disturbed over the
domestic political situation that he can be
persuaded TO make a campaign against
Great Britain. if only he can get paper
victory over Germany in the submarine
matter. Bcrnstorff is now undertaking
the boldest and the most indecent OF all
his ventures to injure the United States
and to benefit his own government. lie de-
sires 10 make us the servants of Germany
end to destroy for all time the long-stand-
ing bonds Of amity between this country
and France and Great Britain.
But even as he is attempting to do tins
Count Won Bernstorf does not disguise
his contempt for the timidity or the Al
ministration. Again and again in recent
DAYS he has authorized the statement that
any concession Germany makes now VIII
he conditional. He has authorized the
statement that the immunity from murder
bestowed upon American citizens on the
biqh seas will be withdrawn hereafter un-
less the United States shall meet the Ger
man expectations in dealing with the Brit
.ish blockade Germany, for price, Is 10
stop assassination for a time, but II she
cannot get a sufficient price for temporary
RECOGNITION of the ordinary considerations
of civilization, she is going back to MUIR
der.
This is the Bernstorff thesis. He be-
leves that if he can only persuade MI
Wilson to accept his proffered victory so
necessary to Mr.. Wilson's political fort
unes. he will then have Mr.. Wilson IN his
rover. 1t will lie in his power to procure
another submarine incident and he be-
lieves the fear of such tragedy, which
would reduce Mr.. Wilson's victory to ashes,
will make the President his reluctant but
obedient tool in an attack upon the British
blockade.
Such are the facts: Why will Mr.. Will
son and his advisers not recognize them?
Why will they not abandon useless discus
sion with a government devoid Of faith,
honesty or even ordinary decency? Why
will they not repulse the shameful offers
row made and send Bernstorff home? Ger
many is playing with the United States
and it is playing with Mr.. Wilson. 1t has
taken his measure and it has resolved to
proft by his weakness. And If Mr. VIII
son thinks that he will ever obtain the
German-Amercan support, he Is making
the greatest mistake in his whole life. lie
has lost that forever. Why will he con-
time to throw away the American sup
port that he might always have had, that
he might still command; why will he re-
pulse the Americans, who without regard
to party were behind him last summer
and stood with him until his position be-
came utterly impossible, merely in the
hope Of regaining what has been lost IT.
revocably?
No man ever had greater opportunities
to rally the support of nation than
Woodrow Wilson. No man ever had
better chance to command the support Of
all men of all parties, whose fundamental
allegiance was to America, than the pres
ent Chief Executive. Why does he con-
tinue to repulse those who hold America
their first duty in the vain hope Of re-
gaining the support of those who put Ger
MANY first and will make the single con-
dition of their support the demonstration
by Mr.. Wilson that he places German
above American interests?
Whv Not an Out-and- Out Blockade