New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-05
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY LOST
Mr. Wilson Should Have Rallied the
Neutrals TO Humanity's Cause.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In your editorial on What It Mean
YOU 20 TO the heart Of the matter when you
say: Germany guaranteed The integrity OF
Belgium and then transformed her guaran-
zee into a scrap of paper Yet for
nearly year we have spent our full diplo-
matte energy in endeavoring to get Germany
70 sign another scrap Of paper and each
time she has put her name down we have
hailed the fact as a proof OF a diplomatic
victory only 10 find the bond repudated the
next moment by some German or Austrian
deed"
Thus the whole Wilsonian policy is built
on pretence and make believe. His profes-
sion Of high ideals and his apparent efforts
10 translate tf.m into action while Gov
ernor OF New Jersey Won the votes OF many
thousands that Of the writer among them.
We believed In him because We thought him
free from pretence an honest man who
would put his ideals into practical form. His
failure 70 veto the vicious Hetch-lletchy Dill
was the first blow 70 our faith in him. Thea
came his signing of those bills which sneaked
in bad legislation by means Of riders attached
to them again proving derelict in a real op
portunity TO destroy that dishonest practice
OF small politicians.
Eventually the German war madness broke
out. and with it the violation O. Bels um.
the wantoa destruction o. Louyan and
Rheims. exc. etc Then the submarine block
adc and tire crowning disaster o. the Lusl-
tania. This combination OF happenings
placed wide open before President Wilson the
greatest opportunity ever offered 70 ruler
in recorded history an opportunity magnin-
Gently to realize his professed ldealism by
uniting all acknowledgements under the lend
ership OF the United States of America in
defence OF human liberty.
The purpose of the Teuton allies from the
first has been an open book to crush al
other great powers and dominate Europe and
the world. | believe had our moral influence
been thrown i'm with France and her Allies
all other so-calied neutral nations would have
openly united with us Just picture for q
moment what influence such al action woul J
have had on the cou.e OF this world war
Is i, unreasonable to believe that, opposed
by such combination, Germany would have
hesitated in her trampling down of the rights
Of other nations and that Belgium. Poland,
Serbia ald Montenegro might have been
spared from destruction and hundreds OF
thousands Of her own pest lives, as well a
those Of France and her Allies, might have
been saved
If By strong and virile policy IN Wilson
could have brought about this tremendous
change in the present fearful cond ton of
Europe what must be the remorse IN store
for him when a realization Of his neglect
breaks upon his mind? Granted that in as
suming such an attitude We had aroused the
enmity of Germany and Austria. would We
not have secured the most cordial friendship
OF all the rest Of the world' How much
prestige or friendship has our present atti-
tude gained for us from any nation? In
what way has the policy Of the gloriied type
writer benefited Us? Has it not rather
greatly detracted from the prestige and
friendship we did enjoy with other nations =?
II the official adoption OF neutrality has
sprung from che dctum OF the past that for
the United States there must be 40 entang-
ling alliances" with European nations. are We
not utterly ignoring the vastly changed con
ditons OF the present "a compared with
those OF the past when that declaration was
made? Again. this notion Of national isoa-
tiou is merely foolish pretence. Why our
very efforts to remain neutral have drawn
Us into the European dispute already; and.
whether we will or not. We are bound to get
into it more deeply as time goes on. How
does Mr. Wilson's policy show up in the
light OF this reasoning?
AIR. Simonds's able analysis Of the mean
ing Of the German negotiations with Us anent
the Lusitanio should be studied by every
man who still holds truth more than
A farthing rushl.ght.
To be pirched out when YOU will
With your def Official fingers and
Your politicians skill"
These negotiations are simply nothing
more than make believe. Mr.. Wilson reveals
both his sincerity of purpose and his regard
for the peoples Intelligence when he az,
tempts to spread the belief that he has won