New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-29
IF GERMANY GOES UNFINISHED
What America Has to Fear if the War Is
Called a Draw

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Among the self-rcvelauon7 when
Mr. Wilson makes in his note OF December
rs 20 the bclligcrcnt governments arc two
Of profound and di.quioting significance. In
asserting it TO be "the fact that the object
which the statesmen Of the belligcrents on
both sides hav. in mind in this war are
virtually the same" he shows that he fsIIs
utterly 70 perceive and TO recognize the
validity Of the spiritual and moral lssues
which arc involved IN the war.
Did he comprehend and react 20 these
spiritual and moral questions. and was such
reaction supcrior TO tho temporary sense OF
security he is endcavoring to achieve, even
at tho eacrifcc Of international justice, MT
Wilson would no more seek to compromise
the European struggle in its present stage
than in private life he would be willing to
compound a felony.
Aside from the moral questions involved
which alone should have been welghty enough
to prevent even the suggestion OF his inter
ference until Justice should have been done
and the need for mercy become apparent
there is another reason, grave and lar
sighted. because Of which our President
should have refrained from attempting 10 ar
rest hostiitcs at this time
Il is this: The issue of the twentieth cen
fury has now been declared and is apparent.
Two orders Of civilization are contending for
mastery Tcutonic and Anglo-SaIon. At its
end which shall prevail? We have seen that,
despitc its support by Slsv and Latin, An
glo-Saxon civilization in the Eastern Hem
isphere has but narrowly escaped disaster.
Knowing this, We ask ourselves what would
have become Of II had Great Britain lacked
but few ships. How near, indeed, to the
brink. when upon less than million tons
Of metal anoat depended the freedom or sub
iugation of the Anglo-Saxon race in Europe
Nought but thoughts Of repugnance and
anxiety should come TO an American states
man when he contemplatcs the narrow escape
of Great Britain and views the trail Of the
sanguinary monster that now bostrides tu-
ropc. Sight Of the bloody processes Of con
quest and assimilation. which are the surgical
means by which the Tcutonic Hercules trans
forms other civilizations into his own, should
arrest any effort for peace by America until
that giant shall have been stripped Of his
power for evil.
In view of it all can any doubt remain as
to the jeopardy which in future will con-
front ourselves il the outpost Of our own
civilization. Great Britain, should now or in
future go down before Germany? Dare any
one contemplate with composure our years to
come if the war be called draw and Ger
many be left the proven victor in every null
tary sense7
4 glorihed Germany revellng IN her
achievements, unpublished, forgiven, un-
shorn of her might, and still in the hands Of
her military caste-what q spectacle, indeed,
for the contemplation Of Americans, who are
possessed Of a third of the worlds wealth
and have thrown the sgis Of their protection
over the whole of Pan-America! third
the worlds treasure, unguarded By anna
ments; whole hemisphere, protected by
what?
Because Of the foregoing is it moral or
is il wise from the standpoint of our eventu-
al security for US 70 be parties 10 the max
ing OF peace so long a. the -sd god OF in
solent ruthlessness is astride the charger OF
victory? | say. no,
HENRY A. WISE WOOD.
New York. Dec PC. 1916.