New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-04

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: A wit once remarked that Boston was
not a localty-it was a state of mind In a
much broader sense it may be said that the
United States of America is a state of mind,
and that any influences which tend to lower
this state Of mind from the high plane upon
which il was conceived by the founders Of the
nation are directly nimical to the country.
It is this American state Of mind which has
demonstrated it's stability by spreading across
the seas, until to-day France and England
are largely patterned on it. The acceptance
by the enlightened nations of the world of
our principles of liberty and political equality
for every individual is proof of the inherent
vigor of our underlying doctrines.
A state of mind can only be indicated by
utterances and acts, and those whose utter
ances and acts carry most weight to the world
as indicative of America are the President
and the Secretary Of State II we who are
America deem that they are unworthily rep
resenting us, it is our duty to proclaim this
fact, lest by silence We let the world think
that our state of mind has become such that
these mouthpieces duly express it,
some OF my 1rlenuly Critics tnlHk lHdJ III
my letters | have weakened my case by being
personal in my disgust with President Will
son. How else can point my moral? With
whom else can | quarrel, who still believe
in America, Every man who takes public
office must of necessity subject his conduct Of
that Office to criticism, and so long as only
his public acts and not his private life are
assailed no oficehoder has any right to COM
plain, no matter how severe the criticism may
be- ! have never in public said one word
against Mr. Wilson's private character.
have not commented upon the shape of his
nose or his taste in hosiery. But where Mr..
Wilson has acted not as Mr.. Wilson, citizen,
but as President Of the United States it is
not only my right but my duty as an Ameri.
can to interest myself in those acts with sp-
prevail or disspprovsl, as the case may re-
quire The state of mind which is America
demands that if it's official mouthpieces fail
10 express it worthily in acts and utterances
million unofficial mouthpieces shall pro-
claim tho truth.
Under our form of government political
parties are not recognized as responsible en-
titles. We cannot blame the Democratic party
for the present shame Of the United States;
we must lay the blame upon the public men
placed in Office by the Democratic party. In
like manner Mr.. Wilson must bear the blame
for the faults of his Cabinet; on him rests
the responsibility for them. 1t is frequently
said Mr.. Wilson was compelled by political
necessity to put the buffoon Bryan into his
Cabinet and should not be held to account for
Brysn's shortcomings. l reply that Mr.. Will
son took the oath as President Of the United
States, not as leader of the Democratic party,
and is himself responsible for the appoint
ment Of q VIGOROUSLY incompetent man. IN
less he believed that il was in the interest of
the United States that Bryan be made Secre-
tary OF State he was not justified in making
the appointment, and any prediction pledge
to such an effect was not only morally vicious
but became upon election absolutely null and
void Ar. Wilson's duty then became his duty
to the United States, a duty against which
no party advantage or party pledge could be
Of any effect. The care of deserving Demo
Gratis" may be duty Of the boss of Tammany
Hall; it has no part in the duty Of an Office
holder OF the United States.
Eternal consistency may be the mark OF a
petty mind. but Inconsistency is not q proof