New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-11


United States was then bound by honor, by
law. by the faith to which il held, TO stand
for international law. 1t WAS not a ques-
ton of making war TO avenge our dead
wat would have been unworthy; but IT was
q question Of making our championship OF
the laws of humanity clear, whether that
involved war or not.
The Lusitania was more than a brutal
crime II was n challenge 10 our democra-
cv II was a declaration IN fact that Ger
many held herself above all laws and rules
when her purpose was TO be served. II
was precisely the same thing that the in
vasion of Belgium was. If that idea was
10 prevail in the world. then there was
an end TO all that America and democracy
and civilization meant or could mean. II
was an appeal to violence, to brutality, to
barbarism: it was the neeation Of oil that
civilization had meant or could mean.
If the Unitct States was not then pre-
rarcd to defend the law and humanity, by
war if necessary. without regard to
cost or other consideration, if il was
rot then prepared to make the sac
r;fce which il had made before in the
Revolution and the Civil War, then 1t
could not thereafter claim that il had de
Tended or indicated humanity. interna-
tiona law, American rights. And the
Cnited States was not ready. 1t never
has been ready since, So far as the Ad-
ADMINISTRATION is concerned. All that we
did all that we have ever done. was to at
temp. 10 er orce our first ulumatum by
iakweHs. to write note after note and wait.
Precisely as long as Germany found
rroht i'm murder she declined TO heed our
notes. We had one crime after another.
Only when the British fleet had cleaned
up the submarine pest did Germany begin
I, give ear to oar protests Say that this
policy kept us out Of war, if you please;
praise Mr.. Wilson if you believe that the
best thing was TO stay out Of the war at
any hazard; bat do not assert for this
policy that il defended humanity, vindi-
Gated law. accomplished anything else
Il is false and vicious doctrine that
those VINO claim for Mr.. Wilson's policy
victory for humanity would inculcate.
There can be no defence of rights or of
anything else that does not involve the
possibility and the readiness to fight if
necessary. Iu al human history men have
won liberty. equality. all the great things
in personal and poitical life, by fighting
rot by talking; oy deeds. not words The
greatest vice OF the present situation, II
We now come 10 the end Of our German
debate. viii be that millions Of Americans
will believe that words are sufficient and
that there is no need to sacrifice, to serve
cne's country: that freedom is a thing that
one inherits and that the civil courts will
guard its title.
The real meaning of this whole world
struggle is found in the case Of Belgium.
II ever there was a case i'm which right
should have prevailed over might. it was
i'm the Belgian case. If words could ever
have a force such a some people imagine,
King Albert's answer to the German ulti-
raatum would have abolished the Kaiser's
masses. But words have no such power;
Trey never had and they never can have.
Nations do not live by words or by pre-
fences: therefore there was left TO the Bel
CLANS nothing but to 90 out and die. and
they went. So our fathers and grandfath
ers went in the Civil War time. They
were not fools or madmen, but they loved
their country and they were willing to de
fend it in the only way they knew.
If Germany and Austria should now
comply with all our suggestions and meet
oil our specifications, there would be no
victory incident to American defence of
rights. There would merely be the seizure
Of preteXt by the Central Powers, TO
serve their own ends. Does any one sup
nose our words. lacking all force. could
have weight the British words lacked
when they were backed by the British
navy in the case of Belgium?
There is no salvation in words and there
is no defence in words. The American
PEOPLE will pay in blood and treasure be
yond ali possibilities Of estimating if they
are now Convinced that by some magic, by
some miracle, Mr.. Wilson's notes tanned
the German and subdued the Austrian.
Because ne talked as he did, the danger Of
war was avoided from day TO day until
the Germans no longer found profit in
their submarine campaign. Then they
met our suggestions, because it served their
purposes. Thus perhaps we avoided war;
certainly we have so far avoided war; but
we did not defend anything; we did not do
anything but talk.
When the Germans sank the Lusitania
it was not a question Of peace or of war;
Il was question of duty. That duty was
to defend law and humanity, and this