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


rights. If surprise and disgust have been
caused by these utterances, however, what
can be said about that now historic phrase,
TOO proud TO fight? Would that he could
see, as have seen, the blazing scorn on
the faces of erstwhile peaceful citizens as
they bit out those words-"too proud TO
fight"
Does president Wilson seriously believe
that there is on this earth one man--Amer-
lean or otherwise-who attributes the Ad-
minstration's attitude toward the slaugh-
terers Of innocent women and children 10
an excess Of pride, Why not too proud TO
fight poor, decrepit little Spain in '9s?
Belgium cried TO humanity for succor and
protection with ten times the right, ten
times the appealing force that Cuba did,
and the destruction Of the Maine was
never proven against Spain absolutely, az
was that of the Lusitania against Ger
many. Cuba was a colony Of SPANS, and,
cruel as her oppression was, it may well
be said that there was less reason for
interfering between a parent land and her
colony than there was for protesting when
Germany utterly ravished an independent
little country in whose inviolability the
United States had at least the moral in
terest of her signature, given 10 the con
vention guaranteeing that inviolability.
The people of Canada are not, perhaps
more skeptical than others when they en-
terrain a shrewd suspicion as 70 the char
acter of those principles" which made
the eagle scream in the one case and take
the form Of a dove in the other
We firmly believe that the American
citizens who lost their lives in the Lusi-
tana and subsequent massacres lost them
because Germany saw plainly that 1t was
safe TO ignore the threat contained in the
earlier note. The outrages against Ameri-
cans on the seas need not excite u.s. how
ever, much as we deplore them. while they
are borne so complacentIy by the govern
ment whose head proclaims it a sacred
duty" to protect its citizens. The matter
has obviously nothing 10 do. directly, with
any but the people of the United States.
We cannot help observing and consider
ing, nevertheless, the national spirit
which during the last year has not merely
suffered but generally indorsed the long
succession Of legal seedlings, each one
answered by fresh outrages, until the sue
cess Of the British navy in hunting the
pirates down made diplomatic victory"
for the United States a most diplomatic
finale to the Improbable submarine cam
paign.
We in Canada are wondering about it
all, and sad; wondering and sad-because
we wish TO love and respect our neighbors
that the attitude Of the American people
as a nation toward this war and the
great issues involved has been, as we see
It. ignoble. The world will always be
grateful for those contributions which the
private generosity of the American public
inspired them 20 make for the help Of
stricken Belgium and Poland, and the
hero.sm of the medical saviors of Serbia
will never be forgotten; but these were
noble acts Of individual initiative and
scarce consistent with a policy Of such
strict neutrality that President Wilsoc
says he would not draw a passionate
breath for fear might disturb the nice
equpoise Of this part Of the world Sure
ly must toe benefactors, as they work
amid the needless misery and suffering,
have some bitter thoughts about the men
who, with many fine phrases about the
mission Of peace, persuade their country
men that it is a high duty TO stand idly
by while a bloodthirsty bully RACES
through little brothers land, so that
they may, at length, call an ambulance for
the victims. without the. risk Of harm or
loss Of custom,
Just as surely as We believe there is
Just God ruling the world-because Of it,
in fact-we believe that the United States
will yet pay in blood and tears, as well as
untold treasure, for its ignoble neutrality,
its official soullessness in this crisis Of hu-
man liberty. Oh, what il might have
meant for international law. international
morality and international brotherhood
through the coming generations If, when
the first great wrong was done-the
wrong the German Imperial Chancellor
adnitted-the only power which had no
private interest a. stake had thrown all
IFS moral influence on the side Of right
and justice and against oppression The
prestige which would have been gained,
the friendship and sense Of obligation
which would have been aroused, the ostra-
cism which it would have brought on those
who would wantonly plunge the world into
this deluge Of blood for the sake Of ma
terial ambtions-these would have been
worth untold billions spent in military
and naval preparedness. But better than
that. it would have been right and honor
able and brave: better. even. than the love