New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-26

thirsty oppression and rapine in the
stricken land, we hoped again that the ma
tons voice might be officially raised in
the interest Of right and the denunciation
Of wrong, but we heard only further ad-
monitions TO strict neutrality. So it has
continued while the Administration has
coldly watched innocent peasants Of Ar
menia by the hundred thousand suffering
at the hands Of Germanys allies the same
fate as befel the heroic Belgians. True,
when the saVagery came nearer home and
time after time American citizens were
wantonly slaughtered at sea, series Of
solemnly hollow notes Of protest were
written. to be received with sardonic
smiles and answered with fresh outrage;
but they were plainly inspired by nothing
higher than burst Of anger at the assail-
ing of American rights, and as soon as the
popular clamor had died down they were
speedily relegated to the order Of routine
business until evasion on one side and
timid willingness to palliate crime on the
other could make the inevitable com
promise. As & member Of the family Of
nations, as a great democracy which has
long proclaimed itself the land Of the free
and the home Of the brave as a potential
leader in international morality, the
United States Of America has deliberately
-hosen 10 stand aloof.
And this is what the leaders Of the ma
ton declare to be its plain duty! Has
nation no duty to humanity and civiliza-
ton as we'll as to itself? Does not the
analogy Of the individuals duty TO society
hold, and, if so, is it not simple prudence
as we'll as a moral obligation, for every
member Of the family Of nations TO see
that such great wrongs are not allowed to
triumph, lest the fabric Of law and order
and justice the world over be destroyed
and It's own future peace and safety be
mperilled? If lynching, a riot or a re-
bellion break out in a community and the
forces of law and good government are
scarce able TO cope with the enemies of
society, is it not beholden on every man
WHO is worthy Of his citizenship, whether
he be Immediately endangered or not, TO
come to the assistance of those forces with
all his strength, moral and physical?
Just in 50 far as ne fails TO do this is
he not recreant 10 the civilization he has
inherited, and is he not to the same extent
increasing the risk of another outbreak
by the encouraged breakers Of the peace.
who, next time, may wreck his home or
take his life? If, in spite Of national con-
ddence IN your own security and strength.
the time should some day come when
savage enemy ravages American soil with
as utter disregard Of right, Of respect
for national treasures, Of fair methods Of
warfare, Of the sanctity Of innocent lives
and women's honor, how, then, can the
United States expect any Of her sister
races 20 greatly concern themselves? Per-
haps you say she never Will expec, it and
is not dependent on her neighbors Let US
hope so, and that because she has been
"concentred all in self" she may not go
down 'unwept, unhonored and unsung.'
Can the American people look into their
hearts and deny that it is their battle as
well as the Allies which their fellow
Americans in Canada are helping to fight;
that this is not war merely for the
preservation of the Allied countries, but
a struggle for freedom everywhere, for
civilization, for the future peace and hap
piness Of the world-things which the
United States is as much interested in
unfolding as we are? If they think it is
not these things, let them contemplate for
q moment a German triumph, with AFRO
CANT German militar,sm and lust for do
minion fed with the spoils of Europe;
then tell US how much security is left for
North American peace and independence
# any considerable number of them think
+. Is now can they explain 20 their neigh
bors and humanity at large, how will they
explain 10 future generations Of Amerl-
cans who may suffer for this moral supine-
ness, their snguarly patient acquiescence
I'm a policy which not only evades any
share in the burdens Of the conflict, bu
which urges against US with cold exact
ness every technical right Of freedom fro
inspection at sea, no matter what mora
justification there may be land there ad-
mittedly is a great deal for interference
with those technical rights?
They assert that large majority OF
Americans are privately with us in sym
PATTY and say Fight on; fight on! We
hope you will win, but we must be strictly
neutral, az if we took any national stand
in this awful war it would cost US so
much-money by the hundred millions las
you are spending it,, some American lives
possibly (Which are, Of course, much too
valuable 70 sacrifice in any fight for free
dom as long as we cannot hear the clank-
-L--.--- L. ~ anrrn Of OILY GOLF