New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-14

10 the EQtOr o. Inc tribune.
Sir: Mankind differs from the brufes II.
approaching the worth of things intangible,
of values other than the creature comfort
of food and warmth. Civilization measures
the degree TO which people devotes itself TO
these intsngibles The basis of this appre-
citation is unselhshness, willingness 10 SIC
rifce some of the eating and the warmth tor
the psychological satisfaction OF art, poetry,
music and literature, or the even less con-
crete forms OF charity, public service and the
love Of liberty.
Selfshness H. next 20 cowardice, the quality
most vile in man and the greatest foe TO the
development of civilization. The civllizing
influence 81 Christianity has been due 20 the
Golden Rule. which is simply command 20
be unsensh And now that civilization has
become something which affects the world a.
q whole rather than each of the nation Of
which it is composed, national unselishness
becomes even more important than individual
unselfishness.
This war is entirely attributable TO the
failure OF The nations TO apply the Golden
Rule to themselves. The selfish German
Junkers sought By war to increase their
wealth and power. and used the national sell
fshness OF their country as the means to
accomplish IT,. No motto can be more IN.
christian than Deutschland ubcr Allies" ard
unless We carefully limit its application
America First" is nearly as bad The fact
thai the German people more, perhaps. than
any other recognize the value Of cooperation
synonyme Tor immediate unselti shress
within the country makes it extraordinary
! that it should so utterly have failed TO prsc-
Use It among nations.
From the turmoil and misery of war Europe
has learned the need of individual unsefsE-
ness. The spirit of service is there supreme
H. German fighting for an evil cause a
much as in those nations fighting for truth
and liberty. Europe has a clearer under
standing than before Of the value OF abstrac.
things like honor and good faith, better
kuovledge Of the real meaning of life and
the iusigni6cancc of death. France has re
gained her lost and tortured soul and look
cleer-cyed TO the future. for which her high
self-dena shall be an inspiration. England
has cast away her tat and easy content; the
nation has looked upon its dead and is put
ting aside childish things. Russia Is aroused
TO new and iof.ior ideals. and will never ngdiu
browse in the drugged and poisoned sleep If
the past. And even Germany is cleansing her
national SOUL by self-sacrifice. for reader
acceptance Of the new and nobler democratic
ideals which viii be her only recompense for
the bitterness Of defeat and the hatred Of
the world which the worship Of her false
gods viii have brought to her Europe will
be poorer in purse. burdeued with loss End
maddeued BY muititudnous death. ut scner
"a ointment and ideals. So. too. with Can
ada. Australia and the ether lands which nave
dared and bled.
what OF the United States? What o. the
soul of my country We nave not starved o.
bled for our principles; We have plohted in
wealth from the war; we have fattened on
the needs Of the world We have capitalized
death: we have squeezed dollars out of blood
and misery. The clarion call came 20 US to
take oCr stand immovable for international
honor and justice 10 heed the cry of dcmoc-
racy wantony attacked, to make international
Law a act rather than fcment, TO be true
TO IL" traditions Of our history even at the
possible cost OF war. But 10 this cell TO the
service Of mankind. to this cry that We. too.
show that we are willing 20 sacrifice part
Of our eating and our warmth for the great
intangible our government turned a deaf
ear. The selling of our cotton, the mari letting
of our wheat. was its concern.
II this be the meaning OF America First.
may we never adopt the motto. Many believe
that it is 10 more than a demand for national
sehshness, that We Germsnize ourselves.
But # II mean that we must raise America
! up III emulation Of the virtues OF other ma