New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-28
Mr.. Hughes and the Lusitania.

Mr.. Hughes and the Lusitania.
A great many Americans will regre
that in his message to the Progressive
Committee Mr.. Hughes referred TO the
| Lusitania slaughter as a tragedy" anC
not as a crime. 1t was tragedy in very
real sense, but it was far more, it was g
crime against civilization unparalleled ir
modern times and unequalled in American
history.
For some of us the Lusitania was the
final expression in action of the meaning
of the German idea. 1t was the ultimate
demonstration of the German doctrine OF
necessity, the necessity that knows neither
law, humanity nor aught else when Ger
man purpose is concerned. For us it was
what Belgium was to Europe. it was an
"atrocity" in the broadest and deepest
sense.
The tragedy which was the death, the
cruel death of so many women and chill
dren, as well as men, owning American
citizenship. was like TO that other tragedy
Of the Titanic. 1t was thing to stir the
sympathy and the sorrow of the millions.
But the crime was something more, it was
an epitome of what Germany means in the
world and what Germany means for
America
Mr.. Wilson has told US we have no con-
Germ with the war in Europe. He has told
us it is a piece of collective madness and
we must wait until all Europe becomes
sane again. No one believes that Mr..
Hughes shares Mr.. Wilson's view. No one
believes that, had Mr.. Hughes been Presi-
dent, he would have patiently endured a
policy of murder and returned words for
lives taken from innocent Americans. But
when Mr.. Hughes speaks of the Lusitania
tragedy" he will still evoke the applause
of those Hyphens who in semi-secrecy Gel
ebrated the killing, while in public they
deplored the tragedy" with hypocritical
tears.
Mr.. Hughes will have TO tell his fellow
countrymen what he thinks of the Lusi-
tania. The Tribune does not suspect him
of the least desire to evade the issue. II
finds his statement Of Monday the clearest
and most satisfactory thing he has yet
said 1t believes that it indicates state
of mind which will presently be made clear
to the whole country-but for that many
Of US are waiting.
1t is not, as some of Mr.. Hughes's friends
have suggested, that his Americanism is
doubted by those who know him. 1t is not
that there is any personal element in the
thing. But thousands of US are anxious,
even resolved, that the Commandments
shall not be able to find any excuse in Re
publican politics or in a Republican candi-
date for asserting that they have influence
in American public life or can punish
American public men who fail to satisfy
their alien sympathies.
The Tribune has never doubted Mr..
Hughess Americanism. It is not seeking
to embarrass him. It is not demanding"
anything for itself or for its constituency.
1t wants to support Mr.. Hughes with all
its power and with all the enthusiasm it
can muster, and it finds itself still ham
pered by association with that alien ele-
ment, whose loyalty is German not Ameri-
can, whose purpose is to serve a Teutonic
not an American purpose and whose plat
form is comprehended in the intent to
punish Woodrow Wilson because he did not
satisfy Potsdam.
Mr.. Hughes has in his latest utterance
given clear evidence of his own conviction.
1t is not too much to hope that in his own
time he will give an expression of this
conviction which will serve as a rallying
cry to those who ask nothing better than
TO serve their country by helping to elect
him to a position for which his qualifca-
tons are unmistakable.