The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-16

lead To inevitable war. Our diplomacy
mas dealt with symptoms and ignored
causes. The great decisive question
upon which our peace depends Is the
question whether the rule Of action APP
piled to Belgium In to he tolerated. If
IL ~ tolerated by the civilized world this
nation will nave TO fight for its life.
There will be no escape. That is the
critical point ~ defence for the peace Of
America.
Lost Moral Leadership.
When our Government failed 20 tell
uhe truth about Belgium II lost the OPP
p~ortunity for leadership OF the moral
sense OF the American people. II IL
iost the power which a knowledge Of
mat leadership and a sympathetic re-
Spouse from the moral sense OF the
"oflu would have given 20 our diplO-
macy. When our Government failed to
make any provision whatever for de-
tending its rights In case they should be
trainpled upon 1t lost the power which
a be'ief In its readiness and will 20
maintain Its rights would have given -
i's diplomatic representations.
When our Government gave notice to
Germany that II would destroy Amcri-
can lives n American ships at It's peril,
our words. which would have beer po-
tent IL sustained by adequate prepare
Ton 10 "a them good. and by the
prestige and authority Of the moral lead.
ership or "a great people In a great
cause. were treated with a contempt
which should have been %fortsecn and
when our Government failed to mako
those words good its diplomacy was
BANKRUPT.
Upon the record of performance which
] have tried to describe will the Ameri-
snN gnne.In sa.. a
party Is entitled to be continued Ia
power?
The defects of the present Admins
tration arise from two distinct causes:
The first Is the temperament and
training of the President.
The second Is the incapaci,y OF the
~l'entocratic party as Il Is represented IN
Washington both In the legislative and
In the executive department either to
originate wise policies or TO follow them
when proposed by others or to admins
ter them effectively II they are established
The Democrats In Congress are never
controlled except with a club. and gov.
ernnent with a club Is always spas
mudiC and defective.
Nv ilsOn and Party Can't Change"
These characteristics do not change I:
President Wilson cannot change his ma
ture the Democratic party will not
c.angc the character OF its representa-
tivcs. and there IL no escape from hav-
ing the same causes OF weakness which
have controlled our Government for the
last three years continued In the future
except the withdrawal OF power from tn,
Democratic party.
We must not deceive ourselves by as
suming tina the critical period arising
from the great war has passed. The real
hangers and the real tests Of the
strength of our institutions lie before
us. The most eNact!ng demands upon
the wisdom. the spirit and the courage
of our country are still to be made.
IN this great conflict all forms Of gov
e-nment are OH trial. democracy with
the rest. The principles OF national
morality are on tilai.
We must play our part In the universal
trial whether We will or no. for upon the
r.sul depends directly tn. question
whether our republic can endure. II
ann endure upon wealth alone. Its
NE is the spirit Of free self-government.
and II the light of that spirit be qutnched
in the world the American republic will
d~isintegrate and fail.
BUT what are the people to expect 10
the Re publican party Is restored to
power?
This much We can say now:
They may expect with confidence that
their Government will meet the economic
situation with which We must deal imme-
distely upon tn, clos. Of the war with a