New-York tribune., 1916-01-17
A DIVIDED NATION
Common Sentiment Not To Be Ex'
pected Under Present Conditions.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: have read with great interest your
splendid editorials Of the last few weeks,
calling Americans in so stirring manner
20 face. openly and squarely, tae crisis o0f
great republic has before it-name.y that ci
redeeming our national honor ana resa.n.ns
our self-respect.
Your purpose is indeed noble and gay
patriotic. but TO NE 10 seems 20 be a task o.
supreme difficulty. Take our country, WIN
its three great divisions southern, Eastern
and Middle West and Western states ~ners
interests are so diverse and where ,ymp''
thes are so divergent and try 10 awaken q
feeling OF common accord and nauona. sen
timent. It is a superhuman task. unless me
interests of all are affected by such q thin'
as an invasion or a trade wal.
The other reason 20 explain the lndife''
ence of the country as a whole 20 nstloha'
honor is that we are too young as q na'i0A
20 have any dednable national saniimea"
With the great influx of immigration N 'n'
last fifteen years, our country has been grow
ing younger instead of older. because zoe
vast mass OF new blood has joined wi'n 'h'
older to keep on remaklng and renou.l.is '"-
ever changing American type. ln-l "e n1's
a chance to build up on the chaos we N1'.
for foundation We shall continue 90 ge e'N
changing and unable 10 form che AmeI''""
type which il is our destiny 10 give Wv
human race The time viii come "aen 10
ure regulates the tide OF immisra-ioh . '"-
not until then will the real, definite Dui.0"'
begin.
In view of these facts cannot unceIs.4h'
why we should be expected 90 have me 20
triotiSm OF the time of Washington ana -.
coin, when the immigration 20 our coah'i! ="
Of races more akin in type and more s.'n'
in feeling ard character. We are no"
unharmonious and split up rac.al.y anu
herently than we have ever been do olI "-
tory. That is why no one foreign po.'' -.
possibly meet with success tnfout.v"'
entire country. Imagine what Wollo .'rl..s
if Congress. and not the President. dean
our foreign policy, Things "ou1 ',
worse than thev are now What some o- ~
Senators and Congressman have sara =.
last few days leaves no doubt as % .N".' 10
We are an indifferent people as "...t.
and like 70 live our everyday pIosa.N' rs.
nesslke life without having Us fo-- 0.t
turbed in any way by outside m"'e' ,.,i,.
in the Far West foreign relations a'' U...,l
matte haggling are not brodght iH'o "..,t
everyday existence; they seem very ode
hidden by a veil and things for ol.e' al.
20 settle and work out Business ..sr
important interest. II it IS put oN' s,,,s
by the action Of external or n.er''. e.,-.
then trouble begins. senator Sn.la' -, and
gia. would let the Lusitania matter "'F
90 to war with England over cotton = ,bsp
In my opinion war is iurthel ,ould
il ever was, and Germany and Au',t'H brs.
keep on sinking merchant ships 10 t''', ,,oglt
tai and murderous manner, and W, A..
write notes. which would in time eN'y' =, o.
other disavowal, and yet another anu ana. ,re..
indefinitely. For, with Congress N t,.t,.
ent attitude Of avoiding war AZ a.. a., "a.
what chance is there for longiof ~"
tional honor? Ia. puf-
say again The Tribune has s,,, Of
pose in hand, but small chance We
having its patriotic idealism rea. "a q
are not get nation IN the stree "a cor
the term, so must have that taAe" .e,oun,
sidera,ion when the world calls Us u I.
for our enigmatic qub5llng
Milford, Conn, Jan. 10, 1910.