New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-10

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Our Presden. has from the first
urged upon US TO be neutral; to keep our feet
on the soft pedal; TO say or do nothing
which could disturb our relations with other
nations with which we were at peace.
A. the time, wise and sane counsel, no
doubt. And our people have lived up to II
in full measure. | say our people advlsediy
meaning to exclude those whose hyphens
still attach them to their native or ancestral
and.
Had We not, however, a right 70 feel that
back of such sane counsel was strong brave
government which would always MAINTAIN
American honor even TO action, If necessary
for American rights and righteousness be-
tween man and man and nation and nation!
We have remained as a people supineIy
nuiescent under such a series OF incidents as
have never before irrita:ed the patriotic
spirit Of any people without being soundiy
and thoroughly resented and redressed'
American sef-respect Is being oartereu
through high-sounding words for the hesn
pots Of temporary soft and deiightfu
peace and prosperity which we all so mueh
love when it can be ours righteously'
The pen is indeed mlghtier than the sword,
except when we use our pen and the other
fellow uses his sword.
have always. until the historical record
of the last few years, especially the last
oiohteen months, been proud Of being an
American. | had felt that there was no
serious blot upon our record as nation.
I had felt that ! could travel the world
around and be respected as an American by
reason of wha; our generation and those gone
before had written into the records OF the
United States Of America. sometimes with
the good red blood Of men.
To-day. however, on what can be based
feeling OF pride in being an American
The tragedy OF Mexico, incontrovertibly
Illuminated from the records OF George Har-
vow in "The North American Review is a
oitiful picture of American dishonor.
Yet it is a mere sideshow 10 the greater
dishonor heaped upon US by the records Of
The European war.
Do we really want 20 be di,credi,ed and
dishonored nation? Do our people really
understand what Is being done to them as a
whole? Do they know, ask, that the honor
Of Americans IS being sold for dishonorable
quietude'
Do they know that all that the American
people have striven for from the days OF
Washington through the times Of Lincoln and
Mckinley is slipping through our fingers?
We are not a warlike people. Yet we have
never before in history lived undsr regime
Of "watchful waiting" or been counselled by
our leaders to be TOO proud TO fight" no
natter what the dishonor.
If ever on earth was man Of peace, Il was
Lincoln Yet not for a moment did he hest
tate 70 meet policy OF blood and iron"
ike for like We revere his sslnted memory
and we also revere the memory OF the men
who fought against him. We hold in dis
honor and disrespect the pacifsts of that
day. as We do and will those of to-day.
And now comes the sinking OF the Persia.
This incident is. however. OF moment.
Our disgrace came with the murder of Bel
eium. We also had signed the Hague con
yeutlons. Our disgrace attaches to the Lusi
.aris and our methods OF asserting Ameri-
carism Our disgrace thereafter comes from
Washington, y C.
Our government has now reached the point
% Indemnity" Wha, is TO be the price Of
lead Americans and OF the honor o. our
country
Am oversensitive IN feeling that my self
~espect as an American IL weakened. has
drunken, IS declining. is even Thing OF the
past Sometimes wonder at our passiyeness
under insult Why Is II?
! was brought Up and trained In the idea