New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-06
PEACE AT ANY PRICE
Surrender All Along the Line Has Been the
Presidents Policy.
- .Le Fditor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The attitude of this Administration
and Congress toward the arrogant demands
and threats of a small portion Of the popuia-
ton constituting the unionized employees OF
the railroads. humiliating and cowardly as it
is. should not astonish any one who has fol-
lowed the course Of the President during the
past two years.
The opportunity to lead people IN the
maths of patriotism and national honor sell
dom comes to the sovereign Of any nation as
il came 70 Mr.. Wilson with the outbreak OF
tho Euronean war. Then it was that he
should have made the nations abroad ana tne
advocates Of peace at any price at nome real
ize that this government was determined to
maintain its rights under international law,
as we'll as under its own laws, and to defend
this nations honor and the lives of its citl-
zens, be the consequences what they might
Such a course would have aroused the dor
mant patriotism Of the people, who would
have supported the President almost to a
man. But in its stead we have had only
words-not deeds-notes and threats to one
offender after another proclamatlons ana
public utterances illuminated with ideas OF
TOO proud TO fight" or fighting only for
humanity" while our citizens were being muir
dered. our soil invaded and our innocent
women and children slaughtered on the seas.
Not all the rhetoric in the world or human
itaran ideas combined can curb the ruthless
bandit or stay the hand of the assassin who
realizes that his victim may be too proud
TO fight" or wait to strike until the "ligh'
of heaven flashes from his blade Never
have the honor, dignity and self-respect OF
this nation sunk so low in the eyes of patrio-
tic nations and Of its own citizens OF req
blood as at the present moment
Realizing as they must this deploraole con
dition. is il to be wondered that unionlzed
labor should have assumed the attitude II mas
knowing full well that an Administration and
Congress that would not defend the lives OF
its citizens and honor of the nation would
scarcely hesitate to enact law granting zen
hours paw for eight hours work If by so DO
ing industrial peace at any price could De
secured? Better far that the strike had been
called and the issue fought TO conclusion
than the rights of the nation ANONYMOUSLY
surrendered by men elected to safeguard and
defend them.
With the examples Of the past two years
before them, it seems unthinkable that the
serious minded voters of the country VIII
return this Administration to power, knowing
as they must that its most catching campaign
is the cowardly one that it has kept
the country out of war and saved 1t from
strike-but at the price of its honor and sell
respect
The European war is bringing about
changes and conditions in international rela-
tons which at its conclusion will demand on
the part of neutrals. and especially of this
land of treasure, wise and vigorous handling,
without which position in the council of
nations will be of but little force As we
stand to-day we have numbers, wealth and
God given resources; but we lack unity, or
yanization, economy and patriotism, and in
order to cope successfully with these new
conditions these much needed qualities must
be speedily created and developed
Is Mr. Wilson equal to the task?
CHAS. S. BRYAN.
New York, Sept. s, 1916.