New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-23
PROTEST OR ADVOCATE
America Will Lose Her World Position
Unless She Protests German Deeds
10 tbe Editor 81 The Tribune.

q the EultOr OF inc lIlDuHc
Sir: II Is difficult TO understand the pres
ent temper OF the American people. Crimes
against civilization which in former years
would have brought about keen indignation
and have aroused public opinion toward ma
tional action are now passed by with apathy
as If civilization were no concern OF the
American Republic. Reiterated assaults on
American citizens and insolent disregard OF
the Just reclamstons Of the American gov
eminent are received with equal indifference.
II would appear as if the senstiveness to
wrong and wickedness-not TO say the capac-
ity TO realize a national obligation-had been
duled into insensibility under the policy OF
safety frst" and che kept us out Of war"
There seems to be no realization OF the
fact that an acceptance OF the policy Of
safety first" involves grave risk OF sacrifice
Of national honor and Of national Obligation
while it brings no assurance of national
safety.
The citizens who. in the late Presidential
campaign, supported the candidacy oil fresi-
dent Wilson in the belief that he could De
trusted to maintain the national honor TO
fulfil the national obligations and to carry
out wisely the great responsibilities with
which the nation is now confronted ana
those who cast their votes against the fresi-
dent because the experience OF the past TWO
wears had brought them TO doubt the hrm-
ness, the courage and the national spirit OF
his administration, may at this time properly
unite in an assurance TO the President that
the American people will be prepared TO up
hold his hands and TO give him full support
in carving out a courageous and consistent
national policy.
In giving such assurance it Is IN order 10
remind the President that 1t Is full time TO
enforce the "strict accountability" for as
saults on American citizens and for the bar
barrie policy which resulted in the sinking OF
the Lusitania eighteen months back, and
which, since the Lusitania, has brought
about the destruction of hundreds of other
non-combatant vessels, the larger part of
which were the property of neutral coun-
tries, and the Staying of hundreds Of nom
combatants, number Of whom were Amerl-
can citizens.
Our. citizens should now, irrespective OF
previous party affiliations, unite in an assur-
ance to the President that they are prepared
to uphold the Administration not only in a
national protest, but in national action to
maintain such protest, in regard to the fresh
outrage that is perpetrated upon Belgium.
The conquerors Of Belgium, not content with
overrunning the land, with the burning OF
her cities, the shooting of her citizens, the
imposing of crushing indemnities upon com
munities already ruined, are now taking out
Of the land three hundred thousand men who
are the breadwinners of their families
These men are deported to Germany in order
to fiji in the factories the places Of ablebodled
Germans who are needed in the ranks.
Unless the United States is willing to abb
dictate its position in the family of nations,
if we realize that we have grave response
bility as the most powerful of the neutral
states among the neutral nations, If we ad-
nit that we have any part IN maintaining
the principles of civilization, we should
surely. as a nation, do what can be done to
make clear our adherence Of such deeds as
Germany has committed and continues to
commit in Belgium. If the President will
inaugurate his new administration by taking
action to express our national feeling and TO
bring to bear our national influence, he may
be assured of the support of patriotic citl-
zens throughout the country
GEO. HAVEN PUTNAM.
New York. Nov %. 1916.