New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-07

there. ana some OF us regret W see
her ask for it, We like her too well. We arc
not tearing around hunting up uneasiness; we
hold still and keep our hair on; yet we have
seen enough Of the anti-preparedness move
ment during these last days TO stir us bit.
Suppose ! were French correspondent in
America reporting the situation for lie
Temps" l should begin by showing how care
fully / had "documented" myself; to which
end | should quote "actualities" thus:
Overheard in Boston: "Say, what's the sense
@ preparin'? Business is slick an everything's
fine, an if Americans would keep off them
ships an quit making ammunition, the ward
be over"
From New York Dispatch During
practice march here to-day the militia were
jeered with cries of 'Murderers' Hired as
sassinsr and Here come the big boobs""
From the West: Michigan and Nebraska
want Henry Ford (of the late lamented Chill
dren's Crusade) for President"
From Washington: "Ex-Secretary Bryan
is here, fighting preparedness"
In 1.-THE Yale Alumni Weekly" Professor
William Lyon Phelps declares IF we go in
for big ornaments, let us abandon the Church
In the vast world tragedy that is de-
stroying Europe the villain is Patriotism
With its "embalmed beef its typhoid, its
Philippine affair, its Sampson-Schley SQUAD
bic and its ridiculous initiation Of glory" the
Spanish War was spectacle nicely calculated
TO predispose a man toward pacifsm. AS the
movement developed l hurrahed for arbitra-
ton, disarmament and "the United States OF
the World" | looked upon war as savage
needless. wasteful and criminally insane. be-
gan a stupid essay (never finished, thank
heavenly on "The Behavior of Nations In
which posed as a rather convincing double
Of Professor William Lyon Phelps-as an IN
ternationalist. that is, decrying patriotism. l
was fast becoming one of those 'citizens OF the
universe" | went abroad not knowing but
that might stay indefinitely. When Ameri-
ems threw out their chests, Dragged America
and snubbed everything foreign, felt sick at
nv stomach. Patriotism? 1t looked to me like
a conceited form of hate, at once ignorant and
eeotjstical. | took pride in understanding and
admiring other races. still do, but with
difference Mine own first!
winter in Europe rubbed that in. When
spring came. and with it Americans, l could
have Rugged every man, woman and chld'
Some were vulgar. What Of it? Some were
narrow. What of that? | loved them all
Patriotism returned-glowing. 1t is hot in
me now | am patriotic not merely because l
was born in America, nor merely because l
worship American Institutions nor merely
because | think America better than France
or England Il think her worse, and in need OF
the aforesaid thrashing), but because WITH
ny whole heart, love Americans. Harm ore
of them and you hit me. / am not for watch
ful waiting" while drunken Indians murder
my Americans. | am not for "tactful type
writing" while my Americans are slaughtered
It sea.
what Is tnlS lnllS Cdlleu pdOil - S''
Eagle on a pole? Bunting on string? A
ll ISIS band playing STARS and Stripes For
ever? A Fourth-of-Juy Wilson-cracker, in
scribed with phrases? Have it that way if you
like. What | know and feel is much more hu-
man and PERSONAL thing called affection
\ Is there anything weird about these confes-
sions of pewholder, straphanger, and erst-
while arbtrationist? | do not want war"
save as a means of escaping dishonor. want
preparedness because wars happen and are not
STAYED off by linching. l want America pre-
served for my children. | am without Inter
ested" motives. Preparedness will entail i'm
mense burdens and enormous responsibilities.
am ready for my share. 1t will be danger
GUS. l will do my part toward fighting the
dangers. am not afraid of them. Having
grown up, myself, it does not terrify me to see
America grow up. She can be decent as well
as strong. / fail to discover superior virtue
in the man who lets his muscles go fabby for
fear he might hit somebody. He will do the
hitting after all, and get licked.
For the life Of me | cannot agree with Pro-
fessor Phelps that the preparedness set have
parted company with logic. | rather think
Phelps has, and Ford. Good heavens, look