The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-17
SAYS U. s. ELECTION
is VITAL TO EUROPE
A. G. Gardiner. English Edi-
tor, Sees America Greatest
Power Of World.
TO HBERATE HUMANITY
Special cable Despatch TO THE suS

gives prominence this morning to n two
column article ny A. q. Gardiner bear
ing the title "what Does America stand
For?"
The writer contends that 20 far a. the
United States is concerned the coming
election is the most momentous since the
election Of President Lincoln. SO far AZ
the world Is concerned. he says. II is
incomparably more momereous.
The issue Is not between the SOCIAL
policies Of the Democrats and Repub-
leans or between this or that candidate
he adds. ut Is something far more ele-
mental. II is to decide what America
stands for with regard TO h future Of
the world. and with that decision not
the interests of America alone but the
interests Of Europe and the whole earth
are bound NJ.
when the OLD World energies from
its bath OF blood II will discover that the
scales Of the h~emlspheres have wonder
fully changed that the war has al
tered all our values that the New World
and the Old stand in Il new relationship
II will look on the ruin that surrounds
IL. and in that hour Of terrible stock
taxing will ask one question How can
we save ourselves. our children and pos
terity from a recurrence Of this mania
cal self -destruction"
1--WE cannot save ourselves. We shall
pursue the old path to ruin. Thu devirs
engine Of secret diplomacy will start
weaving It's webs on a new pattern. the
old ambitions will a on new forms.
the despots viii reatrange their alli-
ances. the ornaments ring will resume
its international operations. The press
will he It's corrupt instrument and Par
liaments will be left to play AT de-
mocracy.
.Europe Cau't save Itself."
we are the victims OF our past. car
ryInx the burden OF a thousand years.
The Old World annot save Itself alone
A century ago Canning uttered a great
phrase about bringing a new world 10
redress the balance Of the old. To-day
that phrase has a significance BEYOND
ANYTHING that Canning dreamed. The
Young republic then saw itself a world
apart and nursed tho doctrine or isola-
ton as a precious heritage.
To-day the dream OF isolation IL over.
All through the United States the con-
seriousness OF this fact has aroused
feverish unrest. IT is formulated COM
prehcnsively under the narne OF pre-
p%aredness.' Everywhere there Is eager
heart searching and anxious questioning.
The lightnings from across the Atlantic
have revealed the lack OF national pur-
pose and the perils Of n Constitution chat
had not accommodated itself to the needs
Of a changed world. The nation sees
It's authority challenged from within by
European people TO whom II has given
| shelter and It's own freedom: II sees its
rights challenged from without by the
warning Powers OF that Europe from
| which It believed itself 10 be divorced
II stands on the brink OF a vortex and
at any moment may he caught In the
swirl Of the waters.
out of the tuinult and the agitation
has emerged the cry for preparedness
and the other cry for 'Americanism. ny
which Is meant that a citizen OF the
be loyal TO his citizenship In the Ameri'
can nation.
"Western Giant AvvakeninG."
III we we're not SO preoccupied witt
of the western giant would be felt and
the world would be shaking with tn,
portent. Even IN the midst of our pre-
occupation w cannot AFFORD to ignore
the portent. We ave seen our nation
peaceful in purposes AZ the United States
turn itself into a nation OF armed meI
In a few months. What England ha.
dom America can do. Let us he don't
with foolish sneers at America. Ie'
us understand that in her the future
has to reckon with the greatest power
on the face of the globe"
The writer. in discussing the objec
Of the adoption Of preparedness. ask
whether this means that the United
States Is entering the old world system
of competitive armament AZ IA rival.
The a~sseverations OF peaceful motives
do not answer the question: he says
and adds:
I'VE in the Old World all have go
peaceful motives when We arm ourselves
to the teeth. We always say II Is I,
preserve ourselves against war. We al
ways find in the end that We are thu
creatures OF the machine We hav,
created. Can We he sure that the New
World will have a happier experience
than the old
Mr.. Gardiner expresses the opinion
that primarily the agitation FOR pre-
paredncss IL due to the feeling OF in
security aroused by the frightful catas
trophe in Europe,
But underlying that feeling and gov
erning its direction" he says. els al
idea so sane and So fun of hope tina
distracted Europe might be expected I,
seize its promise az a shipw rocked saiio
a raft. 1t is the idea that the power o
America should he used TO deliver Eu
manity from the tolls In which II In cn
meshed by the past that II Is to be- tn
weapon of a new dispensation that tn
affairs Of men shall henceforth he sub
ject TO arbitrament, not force. but jus