davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
Germany and the Balance Of Power

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: You are guilty OF false analogy
In to-day's editorial entitled Issues Of the
War-New and Old" you compare the atti'
tude Of the Allies toward Germany with
the attitude Of Europe toward the France
Of Louis XIV. It is truly matter Of his
tory that the European powers banded TO-
gcther 10 guard against the French disturb
ance of the balance Of power. But here the
analogy ends. For IL IS also matter OF
history that France had already attained
such proportions at the time Of Louis XIV
that she was a peril 10 au the rest Of Eu
rope and the powers were obliged to re-
strain France and restore the balance OF
power In other words, it was a case o.
entering into a war to preserve the balance
Now, let Us look at the present situation
The war was begun with no thought what
soever Of retaining or restoring or doins
anything else with the balance Of power
There was no such question involved. What
ever reasons may be ascribed for the cause
of the war, this Is not one of them. Or
the contrary, this question has only arisen
since the war began; it is only now that the
Allies realize that the balance Of power lie.
in the hand of the Teuton and must be re
stored 20 its former state at any cost. In
other words, here Is case Of continuing
the war 20 the end 10 restore the balance.
As you yourself assert, Germany would
be willing 10 make peace even on the con
dition of returning all the territory which
IL has captured. Therefore we see that there
is 10 desire on the part of the Teutons to
disturb the balance in Europe. 1t is only
the Allies that are DESTROYS Of continuing
in order 70 break Germany and its allies
and 10 rob the Central Powers OF all these
provinces -Alsace and Trentino, ete.-which
now rghtfully belong to them.
It may seem paradoxical, this idea OF
trying to restore the balance of power where
il has never even been threatened, yet this
seems to be the case.
Now, when you state that the main issue
is TO prevent Germany from dominating the
rest OF Europe, you imply that the Allies
will be victorious, which means Russian SD
premacy over Turkey, with its accompanying
result, viz, the disturbance Of the balance
of power by nation now seeking TO restore
it to its former state, and. secondly, another
great war between the countries who are
now valiantly joined in implanting the fear
OF justice, and, incidentally, of the Allies
in the hearts Of the Teutons.
It is indeed difficult to reconcile these
facts with your statements, but perhaps
you can do II. A. UNGER.
New York Dec - 1918
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
A Boy Brought Down the Banner

To tho Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR In a letter 10 The Tribune last Satur-
day. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, president OF
the National American Woman Suffrage As
ISOLATION, says:
"Ihe world looks TO the press TO provide
data for accurate history"
Since the accuracy OF history is in danger,
let us hasten 10 get the truth into The
Tribune.
The banner hung Ave nice. long minutes
the cynosure Of all eyes-before the angry
Democratic Congressman leaped up and tore
II down. says representative OF the Con-
gressional Union who was present This is
slightly inaccurate. No Congressman leaped
up. As matter Of fact, a boy-one Of the
psges-was boosted on the shoulders OF a
Congressman until he came within reach Of
tho banner
Lego that thing.' he yelled as he gave Il
a Jerk-snd the four women who aspire to
become the equals Of men nervously loosened
their clutches on the banner and It fell
Auttering TO the lower balcony. II was a
boy-not an angry Democratic Congress
man'-who obtained the surrender OF the
suffrage banner. If the sufrsgists care any
thing about keeping history accurate.
J. 5. r.
Data Department, National Assn. Opposed
to Woman Suffrage, New York C!y.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
Whistler and Lowell

(FrOm The Philadelphia Press
The city Of Lowell, Mass, is finding II diff
cult to make up its mind whether to name II
public parkway after its illustrious though
Grant son, James McNeill Whistler. A large
part Of the population cannot forget the slur
placed upon his birthplace by the famous
PAINTER when he said 10 q group OF friends in
London: 81 refuse 10 have been born in
Lowell"
Whistlers controversial pen and his sharp
tongue, his witty quips and his biting sar-
casm have passed into the dim obscurity OF
anecdotage but the genius Of his art remains
undimmed. Soon even the rare personality
of the man will have been forgotten except
in a biography here and there, but his place
in American painting is both prominent and
permanent. Personal idiosyncrasies never
made any man great. Whistler in his life
time was profoundly despised by many for
his conscious, belligerent cleveness with
words But his work and, therefore, his
greatness, is Independent Of this.
Any one can afford TO disclaim Lowell as a
birthplace. but Lowell can scarcely afford 10
disclaim Whistler. Such native sons are
too few 70 be disinherited on account Of an
unkind quip. If Lowell refuses to honor
Whistler as a townsman, the loss will be
Lowell's. Nothing that Lowell can do or re-
fuse to do will add or detract an iota from
the fame OF Whistler.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
Reaping a WhnIwind

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: About the banner incident In Con.
gress Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait says in your
issue Of the sth: ut has required three
generations of agitation and OF demcnstra.
ton in college and school, factory, workshop
home and club to prove to the world that
there are as many kinds Of women as there
are kinds OF men"
Then Mrs. Gait asks the long suffering
public not to blame all sufragists for the
cheap publicity" stunts Of the Congressional
Union for Woman Suffrage. We are to under.
stand, presumably, that those three genera.
tons OF agitation and demonstration were not
cheap but expensive publicity.
AS though TO prove at least part Of Mrs
Cats statement, Mrs. Elizabeth Selden Rog-
ers, chairman Of the National Advisory Coun.
eli Of the Congressional Union, follows Mrs
Gait in the same column, defending militant
tactics and stating that "if 1t be an assault
on good taste TO publicly rebuke him (the
Presdent) commend me 70 bad taste"
Does II occur 20 Mrs. Gait that those three
generations of suffrage agitation and demon
stration are bearing their logical fruit in
the Congressional Union, its activities, It's
cheap publicity and It's bad taste?
Neither Mrs. Gait nor any other rebellious
feminist can escape immutable though "old-
fashioned" law; and as sure as fate those
who SOW the wind shall reap the whirlwind.
ELEANOR GARDEN.
New York. Dec ~. 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
Why Not Kill Cats and Hawk,l
Editor ID L. TrLbune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; I have read with pleasure The con.
munication Of Mr. Archibald C. Weeks IN
reference 20 the proposed destruction o.
sparrows, IN The Tribune o. December lS.
II is gratifying % have a person Of NJ.
Weekss profession and ability come 10 the
defence of a bird unius,y condemned The
hue and cry seems 10 have gone forth ths.
the sparrow must be destroyed. But Why,
for heavens sake, should this wanton act BE-
permitted? What great damage does this
poor bird do that it should be doomed to de-
struction? Those who advocate killing the
sparrows say that they drive away other
birds. Do they know that 20 be q fact, Or
are they simply echoing the statements Of
others as little informed as themsevesl In
my city the sparrows, robins, and other birds
can be seen working together 10 che gardens
and trees and on the lawns in the destruction
Of insect life, which is generally regarded IS
injurious TO plants and trees. Within the
last year or two an offceholder IN one o.
the bureaus at Washington came out with
scsthing arraUment of the sparrow His
favorite plan was to set out some poisoned
food where the sparrows could get L. l0f
course no other DlrQs or animals Noull
touch it,. That man showed that he bad
just as little knowledge Of the law IS be
had of birds. In the State Of New York a.
least such an act would be misdemesncr,
as shown by section 100 Of the penal law.
We hear, too that game clubs and Boy
Scouts are 10 engage In the Wholesale Kill
ing Of the sparrows. They might be n
better busness The plan Is unnecessary
and cruel. IL instils the idea Of killing into
boys and others The whole crusade agains,
the sparrow is on the same high plane
with the killing OF witches in Massaehu-
sets. Ii people arc really 10 favor Of The
preservation Of what they consider desirable
bird life, why not take measures 20 rid corr
munties Of cats and hawks, the two grea'
destroyers OF birds of al hnds2
EDWARD MONAHAN.
Johnstown, y. Y, Dec. II, 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
Character vs.. Love Of Gold

To the Editor OF The Tribune. =
Sir: Prior 10 the Civil War the nan
character and ealibre" commanded
greater measure Of consideratlon-aye
cere respect and dccply-rooted esteem " a,
intelligent and rirht-thinking people nan
tho man OF wealth" merely Many
most highly distinguished men OF tn"' 80,
wcro obliged TO struggle along upon s'e go.
incomes, or fees, or official salaries "n', ~.
withstanding such financial pressure, ~ IT,.
sought Official honors with a view TO -,
ing their own nests a. the expense u 80.
best intereS" Of the public By ool"s "a
lence to their official oathsl" Nha w 49,.
Simply because aside from their ln'''''ss's,rs
keen sense Of obligation 20 their eo.'"s -
constituents and their genuine patr'o' ',s
timent- they we're "inexorsbly upfis", al
VIVA. was tho result Answer iN, .'"Ns,,
"makcshlft' laws -jugglct @ith ~
mrsts and jurymen Ct ai-Ne I,,-'-,
eodos Of "wisely.eonsidercd statutes ~ -
potent and honorable lawmakefs' ~" -.
laws were impartialiy edmnisttres -,
potent and conscientious officers or ~"
woodhaysn. n. Y. Dec. 2. islS
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
America to Her Statesmen

By the dauntless dead who have fought and
bled,
Who have FED the affairs and gimpsed the
star
On the shining heights where faiths visions
are,
By the love OF truth. and Of all fair things;
By the splendid heritage courage brings;
By the strength that suffers, and will endure
Till It sees the peace OF the world secure;
With their work begun. but the goal I'M
won
Peace?
By the Eight they fought-shall II profit
naughtl
BY tho saving word that we did not speak
when the hand Of tyranny smote the weak;
BY the neutral stand we were swift 20 take
While they battled bravely for honor's sake;
By their bleeding bodies the Beast hath
clawed;
By their shining deeds and their cleaning
sword
Shall they sheathe it, thus, at word
from usi
Peace?
By the Living Cod By the sacred sod
Where our blazing Goddess Of Liberty
Stands IN radiance for the world TO see
BY our freedom, bought with the blood and
tears
or simpler people In sterner years:
By our memories Of the slave made free;
Shall our present day admonition be
Put your weapons down. Yield your vic
tors crown
Peace! BEATRICE BARRY
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
THE TEUTONIC SPARROW
Its Campaign of Fhghtfulns's Agsias,
Native Birds.

To tho Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The letter Of Mr. Archibald c. We.k,
published in this mornings Tribune, move,
me 70 reply that not al the feeling sgair..
the English sparrow Is "due 70 ignoraaes
and unwarranted prejudice.7 fear ,ha, ,hs
chronological gentleman from Brooklyn
would have a difficult tins proving-or IN.
ing 10 proye-that there .s no bird Ehi,k
can measure up 20 the sparroU In the Do.
struction Of noNious insects" Such emin.n.
authorities on bird life as Chapman, Pear.
son. Baynes, Burroughs and others hsy,
omphatically and repeatedly said that n,
sparrow is not useful birds they, and the
United States government also l1 bulletin
entitled "The English Sparrow az Pes.-l
strongly recommend che destruction Of es
alien bird for the sake of native birds.
Mr.. Weeks states that "the claim that r.
drives away other birds is largely ur.
founded" This may be true .n forests ard
upon farms. but in the suburbs The English
sparrow does yearly prevent many such use.
ful and charming native birds az thushss
and bluebirds from, making their homes
within the limits Of the village. For three
successive springs the spauows have pre-.
vented bluebirds from occupying the
Berlepsch bird boxes that 7 have placed in
the trees In my yard, and the positively
Teutonic manner in which these odious little
gutter-snipes have routed che lovely native
birds has been enough 20 make a real bird
lovers blood boil. one pair Of b.gs6.rds
more belligersnt than most, STUCK it cut and
Matched brood be- one Of the boxes placed
by neighbor, bat the sparrows organized
such ruthless warfare upon them that thsy
we're compelled % abandon their babies ard
leave the neighborhood Their losing fgh.
was witnessed By half dozen sympathetic
human families who were poweFless 70 help
them. since even a special permit TO use hre.
arms was denied By the city authorities when
our local Audubon Society sought such per-
mission.
Nature supplied CUR country with an SGe-
ouate bird life, and'the English sparrow and
the European starting are both birds tha.
are detrimental to native bird ife
PATIENCE BENlER COLE.
Forest Hills Gardens, I. J., Dec. IS, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
The Seward Statue

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; Some years ago, while engaged IN pre-
pairing a lecture on Madison Square, the
story which J. c. Pumpelly has related con-
corning the Seward statue was then rife ane
had more vogue than at present In the IN
terest OF historic accuracy wrote % sew
ards son, calling his attention 70 the tA!''
and this elected the following answer
"Montrose-on-the-H Hudson.
Dear Sir: Your letter Of the 10Th is re-
ceived
81 had not seen the story 20 which you re'e''
1t is, of course, unfounded and absurd.
"D. Appleton & Co., IN 1876 publishes = :.
volume entitled The Seward MemorA'
You will find in il detailed description aho
history Of the statue, narratng wheh' "as9
and how il was made and containing l."
account of the ceremonies attending Us p'''
entation TO the city, together with 3 !is' u
the chief persons participating therein'
AS the members OF the Historical seeiey
took much interest In the matter 81 ne ua,.
there IS probably a copy Of the book N w ~.
library, as well as in other Libraries 10 W.
York. Very truly yours.
FREDERICK ". SEWARD.
Il would seem that this denial Is suheisn.
10 lay the ghost, for il is 20 be assumed '''
il any one would know about the origin q
the statue Frederick W. Seward sn0"-.
There f. no doubt that the eaigy IS 'sITsn.,
specimen of so-ealled art' and a 'eurog'.,
misbegotten memorial in bronze" Bu' E'''
can enc do about 30?
HOPPER STRIKER MOTT
New York Dec -, 1916
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15

they long for peace, but, 20 quote from
their retiring Premier, mot dishonorabe
patched-up compromise masquerading under
the name Of peace such as the Trevelyan
tribe wishes 10 enjoy. AS evidence that no
sensible person in the British Isles desires
peace at present Mr.. Lloyd George has been
asked to form Cabinet for the more Wig.
orous prosecution of the war. From the
numerous letters which | receive from Great
Britain each mail it is quite apparent that
the desire for the cessation OF hostilities is
great, but the desire and the will to con-
quer Germany are greater.
No one in Great Britain, unless n hope
less pacifst. wishes this country 20 inter
vene. The consensus of public opinion
seems TO be that as the United States
elected 20 stay neutral when tho Germans
invaded Belgium 1t should in all decency
remain neutral now and do nothing 70 ham
per tho Allies IN their Christian work OF
reducing Germany 10 military impotence
CfVIS BRIrANNICUS ERAM.
Yonkers, y. Y, Dee. IL. 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
"CONDITIONS OF PEACE"
The Tbunes Plea Allies Abandon Their Extreme Dmsn'
Criticised by Our Readers-The Poisoning of Opinion

them as the Begians. Poles, Rumanians ana
Arnenians have been and are now being
mulcted, ensaved and slaughtered.
Germany started the war with the speeinc
purpose OF establishing herself as the SOLE
heir 20 the extensive estate Of the dying
Turk. in direct defiance Of the fixed rlghts
and interests Of the powers Of the Entente
and to the consequent Jeopardy Of their pos
sessions and world positions. The great war
must continue therefore, until Germany sur.
renders 10 the Entente the determination OF
all questions pertaining TO Turkey and the
Balkans. And the great battle that will spell
the doom Of Germany's Berlin-Bagdad dream
will be fought along the Anatolan line in
the Balkan Peninsula. Any other issue Is
unthinkable, unless the Entente are wiling
10 recognize Berlin as the worlds capital.
VAHAN CARDASHlAN.
New York, Dec. u, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15

You can purchase merchandise advertised
+, The TRIBUNE with absolute safety-ior
n dissatisfaction results In any case 'lhE
TRIBUNE guarantees TO pay your money
back upon request. No red tape No gun
bling. We make good promptly II the ao'er'
tiser does not.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-02

got to admit that even if you would only
got out your first papers. Birsky, it
gives you already feeling that you are
patriotic when you look at the bridge
in Concord. Mass, where our soldiers
fought the English. amt it? And Mount
Vernon also, Birsky. Am | right or
wrong? Because that's what patriotism
is, Birsky. It's loving a country on &C
count Of being proud of its history, or
because you got recollections of how
happy you was there when a boy, or be-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-02

ION the other hand, don't forget the
young American twenty years from now
who will take his rifle in hand with the
picture in his mind of the parlor in his
old home. where was gathered together
in the mellow lamplight, his father and
mother, his brother just home from col
lege, two lawyers and a certified public
accountant, and all of them bending
over L. S. income tax return" Zapp
said
"Aber who is the young Teller with
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-02

the heroic corporations which manu-
featured them articles and done so much
for the Fatherland during the late war.
81 suppose that the same as we run
excursions from Washington to Mount
Vernon. the German Government will
be running excursions from Berlin to
Essen. where in a little room on the Oath
floor of the Essen Savings and Trust
Building away back in 1910 the Krupp
Iron Works, Ltd, first seen the light of
day in a modest certificate of incOrpOra-
ton with 100000 capital stock, di-
vided into 500 shares common stock and
500 shares preferred of the par value
of 500 each" Zapp said, land as nearly
as possible the room will be restored to
its original appearance NIT gen-wine
antique steel filing cabinet in one cor
ner and reproduction Of the antique
No. 10 typewriter on which the certif-
cate was run off"
"The Germans is very sentimental
people, Birsky said, when not busy
otherwise"
"Well, say" Zapp retorted, putting
tablets on historical buildings is one
way to make people patriotic. You've
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-02

<InEOPLE amt patriotic like they
once used to was" said Bar
nett Zapp, the waist manu-
facturer, to Louis Birsky, the real
estater. Take, for instance, indie
pendence Day, and all it means to some
people is that here it is already the 4th
of July and they amt paid the July rent
yet"
"Well. in way you couldn't blame
EN-. Zapp." Birsky said. Nobody en-
courages 'em they should be patriotic.
On the one side the pacific people says to
EN-: Listen, you call yourself patri-
otto. Go ahead and shout: America,
America dber Allies, oder Uire Ia Amer
lea" and see where it lands you. 1t did
the French d lot of good that they cele-
brated for years the 14th of July and
also the Germans that they celebrated
the 3Oth of February or whatever date
they celebrate. Look at 'em to-day.
That's what comes from being patri-
otto Then again on the other side the
preparedness teller says to EN-; Lis
ten. what are you making all this here
Geschrei about the 4th Of July? Be
cause YOU licked England? Well, let me
tell you that if on July 4th, 1856, Eng
land would of had Just one of them 70
g. m. cannons July 4th would Of been an
English holiday, not American. 1t was
the same way with the Spanish-Ameri-
can War. Of course, you will say we
won. but why? Only by sheer Mozel
If the Spanish would of had couple
up-to-date airy-oplanes, understand
there wouldn't been no dispute as to
who should get the credit for the battle
of Santiago. It would of all gone to
Admiral Abraham l.. Panatela of the
Spanish navy. And yet, you poor Ne
bich. you want to celebrate the 4th Of
july yetr So that's the way it goes
Zapp. People would like to be patriotic
nowadays, but they're afraid of running
up against public sentiment in the mat
ter"
There's something in what both
sides says at that" Zapp commented.
If the Germans would of made it
habit to celebrate the 14th of July out
of compliment to their good friends and
neighbors, the French, Birsky, and if
the French would of made February
3Oth a holiday because it was the an
niversary of the date when their good
friends the Germans succeeded in get
ting their liberty, understand, then
the chances is when it comes to a queS-
ton of war between France and Ger
many they would Of remembered how
they used TO celebrate one another'S
holidays and all that and they would
of kept the peace"
Then you think that instead of not
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-02

cause YOUR ancestors was veterans OF
its wars. SO you could imagine how
patriotic people will be hundred years
from now, Birsky. Our grandchildren
will gather their little boys around EN-
and tell them how during the war with
Sweden, their grandfather run turn
ing lathe in the factory of that great
soldier hero, the international Prolec-
tile and Torpedo Company of New Jer-
sey. and the little fellers' cheeks will
flush and they will shout that when they
grow up, perhaps there will be another
war, and they will be able to work at a
lathe like great-grandfather, and the
parents will grow pale and say: 'Gott
soil hUteH,' on account of remembering
how the old grandfather smashed his
thumb working lathe during the war
with Sweden
also twenty years from now, Zapp,
the young German will love his country
when he thinks how happy he used to
was twenty years ago to get once week
from his mother ticket emitting him
to Al ounces of bread and one potato
of the cubic capacity of 3.1416 inches"
Birsky said.