New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-28
ever much otherwise she might he III
sympathy with American aims,
pye,,Ssrt wilson's spetch fellows;

prs,,S,r, wilson's ,peeeh fellows:
"Wh,n the invitation 20 he here TO-
risht came 20 me | Was glad 20 accept
itsnot because il offered me an oppor
tun,tv 70 discuss the programme OF the
lesrue-thAt you will ! am sure. not
e,neet Of me-but because the desire
ofthe whole world now turns eagerly
mere ard more eagerly, toward the
nope of peace. and there Is Just reason
Why we should take our part IN counsei
uror this great theme. IL is night that
as spokesman Of our government
should attempt 20 give expression TO
nhat believe 70 be the thought and
purpose Of the people OF the United
State. in this vital matter.
"rhi, great war that broke so sud
S,nly upon the world two years ago.
and which has swept within its hsme
so rres, o part o. the civilized world,
has affected us very profoundly, snd
we are not only az liberty. Il rs per
hans our duty. 20 speak very frankly OF
il and Of the great interests OF eiviliTa-
ton which IL affects.
with its causes and its objects ~e
nre net concerned. The obscure foun-
tains from which i.s stupendous Mood
has burst forth we are not interested
70 search for or explore. But so great
quarter - the globe, has % necessity
sneulftd many fair province ~ right
that lies very near TO US.
Our Rights Affected.
"Our own rights as nation. the lib
critics. the privileges and the property
81 our people have been profoundly az
feeted. We are not mere disconnected
lockers-on. The longer the war lasts
the more deeply do we become con-
cerned that il should be brought 10 an
end and the world be permitted 20 re-
sumo It's normal life and course again.
And when IL does come 10 an end We
shall be as much concerned IS the ma
tons 81 war 70 see peace assume an
ASPECT OF permanenee. give promise OF
days from which the anxiety OF uncer-
tainty shall be lifted. bring some as
sursnce that peace and war shsll AL
ways hereafter be reckoned part OF the
common interest o. mankind.
I'VE are participants. whether We
would or not. in the life OF the world.
The interests Of all nations are our
own also. We are partners with The
rest. What affects mankind IS inevita-
sly eur sfSir. as well IS the affair OF
the nations Of Europe and OF ASIA.
zone observation on the causes Of
the present war we are ~ liberty -
wake. and 70 make IL may throw some
light forward upon the future as well
IS backward upon the past Il is plain
that this war could have come only as
Il did. suddenly and out Of secret coun-
sells. without warning 10 the world,
without discussion. without any OF the
deliberate movements OF counsel with
which ~ would seem natural 70 sp-
proaeh SO stupendous contest.
Might Have Averted Struggle.
ct is probable that II it had been
foreseen lust what would happen. Just
what alliances would he formed, just
what forces arrayed against one an
other. those who brought the great con-
test on would have been glad 20 substi-
tuts conference for force. II we our
selves had been afforded some oppor-
tunitv 70 sppriSe the belligerents Of the
attitude which il would be our duty 10
take. Of the policies and practices
against which we would feel bound 10 /
use all our moral and economic /.
strength. and in certain circumstances
even our physical strength also. our
own contribution 70 the counsel which /
might have sverted the struggle would /
have been considered worth weighing /
and regarding. =
And the lesson which the shock or /
being taken BY surprise IN matter so .
deeply vital TO all the nations OF the /
world has made poignantly clear IS that
the peace OF the world must hencetorth /
depend upon a new and more whole /
some diplomacy. Only when the great
nations Of the world have reached some
sort of agreement a. 20 what they hold
10 be fundamental 10 their common in
terest. ard as to some feasible method
Of acting in concert when any nation or /
group % nations seeks 20 disturb those
fundamental things. can We feel that
civilization is at last in a way or JUS I
tifying It's existence and claiming 20 be
finally established. II is clear that ma !
tions must in the future be governed /
by the same high code Of honor that we
demand OF individuals.
Great Moral Necessity Disclosed.
I'VE must, indeed, with the very same
breath with which we avow this con-
viction admit that we have ourselves
upon occasion in the past been offend
ors against the law Of diplomacy which
we thus forecast; but our conviction IS
not the less clear, but rather the more
clear. on that account.
III this war has accomplished moth
ing else for the benefit Of the world, IL
has al least disclosed great moral
necessity and set forward the thinking
OF the statesmen Of the world by
whole age.
Repeated uttersnces Of the leading
statesmen Of most Of the great ma
tlons now engaged in war have made
~ PLAIN that their thought has come
70 this. that the principle Of public
right must henceforth take precedence
over the individual interests Of par
ticulsr nations, and that the nations
Of the world must in some way band
themselves together 20 see that that
right prevails. as against any sort Of
selfish sCgression; that henceforth al
lance must not he set up against ALI
ance. understanding against under
standing, but that there must be a
common agreement, for a common OBJ
ject. and that at the heart of that
common object must lie the inviolable
rights OF peoples and of mankind.
"The nations Of the world have be-
come each others neighbors. 1t is 10
their interest that they should un-
derstand each other. In order that
they may understand each other, II is
imperative that they should agree 20
cooperate in common cause. and that
they should 80 act that the guiding
principle OF that common cause shall
be even-hsnded and impartial justice.
The Thought of America.
This is undoubtedly the thought OF
America. This - what We ourselves
will say when there comes proper oc-
cssion 20 say 10. In the dealings of
nations with one another arbitrary
force must be rejected. and we must
81 no