New-York tribune., 1916-02-26

II is the successful fulflment OF this
latter function which makes the iiles OF
a paper the history of the times. ~ Is
that which makes a paper like he
Nation" of so great value, both 10 the
contemporary reader and TO posterity.
Nearly forty years ago, discussing
the troubles in the Texan-Mexican bor-
derland, "The Nation" said, as might as
aptly be said to-day:
Nothing can secure tranquility
and order but a respectable force
of our regular army, with officers
and men free alike from the heat
Of revenge and schemes for loot.
Annexation will not remove the
necessity for such an armed force,
for if Tamaulipas were to-day, with
all peace and quietness, an Ameri-
can instead Of a Mexican state, the
character of the people would re-
quire for many years a large army
Of occupation, as there is no magic
in the Stars and Stripes that VIII
reform community OF cattle
thieves; and our statesmen should
ponder well the fact that an eddi-
ton TO the territory Of our Re-
public gives US so many more mas
ters, instead Of subjects.
1t was at an earlier date than that,
more than forty-five years ago, in the
war Of the Terrible Year" that Mr..
odkin wrote words which then seemed
timely and which now seem to have
been also prophetic:
II is impossible for anybody who
watches the course of the present
struggle in Europe to avoid being
struck by the increasing difficulty
of the position of neutrals IN oil
wars. The close relations, as far as
time and space are concerned, into
which steam and the telegraph and
commerce have brought all civilized
powers make every armed struggle
an object Of intense interest TO
lookers-on, as well as 10 those
actually engaged in il, and this in
terest, in turn, makes the belllger-
ents increasingly sensitive and eX-
acting. The Prussians, far
from being satisfied with the en-
thusiastic articles in the English
papers, are full of indignation . .
because the French draw arms and
munitions from England in unlim-
tied quantities. while Prussia, being
strictly blockaded, is to certain
extent excluded from the mar
ket.
Now the Prussian complaints Of
the English sale of supplies 10
France open up a question OF i'm
mense importance namely, What
/ is cOntraband of war, and whose
duty is it TO see that neutrals do
not supply il 20 belligerents? We
! have no hesitation in saying that,
should the doctrines which are
gaining ground on these points
finally prevail. il will be almost as
cheap-putting aside the loss OF
life-for a nation, whenever a quar-
rel breaks out between two Of its
neighbOrs, TO take part in the fray,
and, by giving vigorous aid TO one
side, help TO bring II 10 speedy
close, as 10 remain at peace.
in all legal controversies arising
out OF the present struggle II be-
hooves us TO remember not only
that those who make the quarrel
should be the only men TO fight
but that the men who do not fight
are entitled to have their goings and
comings and dealings subjected to
as little burden or restriction as
possible. If any country, for in
stance, does not choose TO keep a
navy, or is unable to keep one, we
are not to be obliged to make 1t up
10 her. whenever she goes TO war
and gets her ports blockaded, by
selling nothing to her adversary
which is likely to help to prolong
the contest.
A little later the question Of the
morality Of dealing in munitions Of wal
was discussed mind you. from ar
idealistic point of view. At that time
Prussia paid no attention to American
sales Of military supplies to France
but very bitterly resented British sales
of precisely the same character. 1hi:
discrimination "The Nation" held TO be
illogical: and while it recognized the
fact that many people thought that the
traffic in munitions should be stopped
on moral grounds, it declined to com
NIT itself to that propositions:
The export of rifles and revolv-
ers for military purposes Is very
important branch of the national
trade. 1t is viewed with no dis
favor or reprobation. A manufact-
urer of arms. or the inventor Of