New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-16
wisconsin and Its Appeal

patCneS, ITeSiutHI NAASNiA
from his last Western trip cheerful
and confident. He seems satisfied
that his candidacy appeals to large
numbers of Americans who care
little for party ties or records lie
is running for reelection on per-
sonal platform. His chief claim
the one on which no relies for sup
port in the Middle VESTS that his
foreign policy has been faithful
reflection Of average American sent-
ment-
It would be foolish to deny that
Mr.. Wilson thoroughly represents
one phase Of current Americanism.
OF that he is not only type, but
super-type. His craftsmanship has
embodied the worst faults of the
American character. II has made
painfully obvious the handicaps
under which the sort Of clustered
Americanism which he and his ad-
mirers stand for suffers when it at
tempts TO adjust itself to realities in
the world outside.
For g generation past our three
most unwholesome national charac-
teristics have been: superficiality,
sentimentalism and unreasoning OPP
timism. We have shut our eyes to
our own weaknesses. We boast that
we are one Of the greatest powers in
the world. Yet we are still economi-
cally under-developed and Industrial
" unorganized. We have hardly be-
gun yet TO achieve a real nationality.
We cheerfully accepted the theory
that our geographical isolation "a
pure fiction, as the events Of this
war have shown insured our safety.
BY cultivation of the mere habit Of
self-praise we brought ourselves to
believe that our political and moral
influence in the family Of nations
was vastly greater than, to our sor-
row, we now discover it to be.
We comforted ourselves in the de-
fusion that words are the power that
moves the world. We Chautauqua-
lied ourselves. An apt platform
speech, followed by silent Chau-
tauqua salute-that was our ideal
method Of disposing Of all trouble
some international questions.
Mr.. Wilson has been stepped and
saturated with this sort of Ameri-
canism. He picked out the greatest
Chautauqua orator of our day, Will
lam J. Bryan, to be Secretary Of
State. They were kindred spirits in
that they both believed that every
thing that the United States desired
abroad could be secured by writing
politely persuasive notes. If the
first notes failed to accomplish their
purpose they could be withdrawn and
other notes, discreetly modifying our
requests, could be substituted. There
was 70 be mo last word" on any
proposition, as Mr.. Bryan said.
Peace-at-any-price and the magic of
the typewriter word-these were
made the cornerstones Of Mr.. Will
sons diplomacy.
They are still It's cornerstones. Mr..
Wilson and Mr.. Bryan parted not
on question Of principle, but on
question Of methods. Mr.. Bryan be-
l:eved that there was no disgrace in
bidding for peace at any price in the
open market. The President thought
that the bargaining should be yelled
under an ostensible championship Of
national interests and honor.
In troubled times like these the
burden Of maintaining American
rights abroad becomes exceedingly
.rksome. Americans have been muir
dered on the high seas and in Mex
leo, and American property, running
in value into the hundreds Of mill
ions, has been destroyed or endan-
gered. The task Of caring for Ameri-
can interests abroad nowadays de-
nands courage, hrTnness, intensity
Of application and spirit Of Ameri-
canism which Is not "too proud 20
fight" But the Americanism which
Mr.. Wilson represents is fertile in
expedients for lodging 30 annoying
and e1igent a duty.
50 the theory has been invented
that tho United States owes no duty
" It's nationals which may conflict
IN any way with our higher duty 70
serve mankind" II American
right in Mexico obstruct tho sc-
complishment Of tho purposes Of tho
Mexican revolution, 20 much the
worse for American rights. Human
ity can DO served without bothering
about lives or property. It's service
involves no other strain than
strain on the vocabulary. SO let us
champion the interests Of mankind !