The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-04-01
We Are Still a Nation.

Apathy IN Congress with regard TO the plight
OF our soldiers in Mexico and its lack of intelli-
gent interest in preparedness, together with the
casual attitude OF the public toward the repeated
disregard of protests and of international law
by Germany are conditions which lead Mr..
Theodore H. Price to wonder whether the people
OF the United States any longer be regarded
as a nation" He does not blame the Presi-
dent or Congress for the decadence of the ma
tional spirit he blames the people. To give
somber color to his pessimism he cites the fact
that the people today are thoroughly well in
formed of the details of all that is going on in
the world and have abundant opportunities to
express themselves Individually or collectively to
their elected servants who are "acutely respon-
sive to the demands of their constituents" Thus
he argues that apathy in Congress merely reflects
the indifference of the people to their honor and
their rights nation.
1t is safe to assert that comparatively few
Americans will admit that Mr.. Prices picture is
faithfully drawn. Nor is it difficult to discover
at least partial explanation for the conditions
described. There can be little doubt that Mr..
Bryan and his few blind and misguided but noisy
followers largely responsible for the reluctance
displayed by too many members of Congress to
support the administrations military program,
though there are indications that they are regain
ing their senses and that before the session ends
long step will have been taken in the direction
of preparedness As for ne needs of Gen. Per-
gress that it has been prompt in providing every
thing for which the administration has asked the
surprise is that more extensive preparations for
IL Ia. 4 Al
deemed imperative. For these shortcomings the
people cannot justly be blamed Without doubt
public sentiment is almost unanimously in favor
of protecting Pershing's army to the limit of its
possible requirements, and it may we'll be be-
licved that it would heartily support a policy Of
adequate though not hysterical extravagant
preparedness What Mr.. Price regards as the
casual attitude OF the public" toward the long
series of German atrocities of which Americans
have been the victims do not believe exists
to any great extent. 1t may much more readily
be believed that the people heart sick and
hopeless as the result of threats that have meant
nothing, and endless negotiations that have pro-
duced pledges, every OF which has been
broken by fresh outrages against our citizens. 1t
is nconceivable that the staggering effect of the
crime OF the Lustania has passed away; the
people have merely wearied of giving outward
expression to their impotent indignation
What is apparently the principal object sought
by Mr.. Price in his article in Commerce and
Finance, in which his pessimistic view is ex-
pressed supplies almost a complete refutation Of
his theory that Congress today is doing the will
Of the people, that it reflects their desires and
sentiments. For he appeals earnestly to every
one of the millions OF voters to write letter
to his Senator and Representatives and "tel them
what he thinks ought to be done" Mr. Price
knows that the vast majority OF sound thinking
Americans do not write letters to Congress or
loudly proclaim their views in public. This great
majority of voters, who study important national
issues and discuss them quietly among themselves
do not take the world the members Of Con-
gress into their. confidence; little is heard from
them until election day. Their attitude toward
the nations wrongs is not to be regarded as
casual" even though Mr.. Prices appeal to them
is not widely effective. They not the pacifsts
who are heard from loudly and frequently; they
are the American people and they may be de-
pended upon to give emphatic to the
question whether they any longer be regard
ed a nation.