New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-17

expressed il TO me, since the rest OF
the world is mad, why should we not
simply refuse to have anything TO do
with the rest of the world IN the ordl-
nary channels OF action? Why not let
the storm pass, and then, when 1t is
all over have the reckonings!
knowing that from both these two
points of view the passion of America
was for peace, | was, nevertheless,
aware that America is one of the ma
tions of the world not only, but one
of the chief nations of the world-a
nation that grows more and more pow
erful almost in spite of herself; that
grows morally more and more infiu-
entail even when she Is not aware OF
il. and that If she is to play the part
which she most covets IT is necessary
that she should act more or less from
the point Of view of the rest OF the
world
"If ] cannot retain my moral infiu-
ence over man except by occasionallly
knocking him down; if that is the only
basis upon which he will respect me,
then for the sake of his soul have got
occasionally to knock HIM down.
Shortest Cut to Moral Sense.
"You know how we have read in
isn't it in Ralph Connor's stories Of
Western life in Canada that all his
sky pilots are ready for a fracas at
any time, and how the ultimate saliva
ton of the souls of their parishioners
depends upon their using their fists
occasionally. II man will not listen
10 you quietly in a seat, sit on his neck
and make him listen-just as ] have
always maintained, particularly in view
of certain experiences of mine, that
, the shortest road TO a body's moral
sense is through his cuticle.
There is a direct and, if may be
permitted the pun, a fundamental con
nection between the surface OF his skin
and his moral consciousness. You ar
rest his attention first in that way, and
then get the moral lesson conveyed TO
him in milder ways that, If he were
grown up, would be the only ways you
would use.
80 say that have been aware
that, to do the very thing that we are
proudest OF the ability TO do, there
might come o time when we would have
10 do il in way that we would prefer
not TO do il; and the great burden on
my spirits, gentlemen, has been that IT
has been up to me to choose when that
I time came.
"Can you imagine a thing more cal
culated TO keep man awake at nights
than that?
Because, Just because, I did not feel
that | wGs the whole thing and was
aware that my duty was duty OF IN
depreciation, how could be sure that
| had tho right elements Of informa-
tion by which TO interpret truly
what we are now talking about is
D
people out my way think so and So
Now. | know perfectly we'll that you
have not talked with all the people out
your way. / find that out again and
again, and so you are taken by sur
prise. The people of the United States
are not asking anybody's leave 10 do
their own thinking, and are not asking
anybody to tip them off what they
ought 10 think. They are thinking for
themselves, every man for himself; and
you do not know. and, the worst OF II
is, since the responsibility is mine, |
do not know what they are thinking
about.
Responsibility Made Hard.
az have the most imperfect means
~ finding out. and yet ! have got 10
act as If knew. That is the burden
o. IL anu Nt4i SNAf bN'N'N'''N.' -
a pretty serious burden. particularly
If you look upon the Office as | do
that ! am not put here 10 DO what
please If | were, it would have been
very much more interesting than IT
has been. am put here to interpret
20 register, 10 suggest, and, more than
that, and much greater than that, to
be suggested TO.
"Now, that is where the experience
that forecast has differed from the
experience that have had. In domes-
tic matters | think | can in most cases
come pretty near a guess where the
thought Of America is going, but in for
eign affairs the chief element is where
action is going on in other quarters OF
the world and not where thought is
going in the United States.
Therefore have several times taken
the liberty OF urging upon you gentle
men not yourselves 70 know more than
the State Department knows about
foreign afaits. Some OF you have
shown a singular range Of omniscienee,
and certain things have been reported