New-York tribune., 1916-02-17
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE Or |9l6
D. s. b, Must o Record Made the Wilson
nduct of FocgnR
World Morally nd Materially ato'ac

which the whole world had hither.o o..
America suddenly changed into mingled ~, ="
ing5 Of hatred and contempt.
When, IN violation Of all rule, ~ ...,.
war. one thousand non-combatants r,,..-..
lessly destroyed in the Lusitania ,,a
hundred American men. women and cbr..
were sent 20 watery death. 40 mad ~
Of entertaining notes phrased wib Al
Of dlalcc.cian, but which. As 'ie over, 1.
proved were more voluble than valr.bi..
while u is true that after number ~ 49,.
shiDs we're likewise sunk the prse,i,. ~.
discontinued, yet the grave principle irvolv.i
iu our demand for "disavowal7 ba. 80.
been conceded by Germany The u,,,,,..
OF the proposed Lusitania settlement -.
out by the Department o. State. cle.rly 80
Gates that tho United States. after ,;.
months OF wordy messages and dini,r,....
suayity, has compromised Tho moral prir,ini,
for Germany corcodes that Tho destruction !,
the Lusitania was unjustifsble ONLY s..
far AZ it involved the loss Of neutral live.-
I'm other words, the Lustania ge,tlen.-.
simply recognizes that its destruction ~,
uniustihable so far as the women and ..
children who we're fed % the fishes v.-.
citizens OF neutral countries. but 70 the d,
tent that these women and children xs,.
English. French or Russian their cruel A,
struction vas iustifable.
This humiiating and porfentous respl.
which may hereafter cost Us the graycst e,,
sequences for the time has passed when /.
ia 70 the advantage Of any nation not 70 hsr.
good and loyal friends in the family of -,
states was due 70 the narrow conception ~
the duty and influence % America Of n.
wilson Administration. II believes IN ar so
lated and therefore a little. America ",
Wilson has repeatedly said in rs public rs.
sages and addresses that We have no par !.
this grayest crisis Of civilization. Two dsu
after the sinking of the Lusitanis. when 4,
whole world was listening intently 70 what .,
American President would say With referees
TO the ruthless slaughter Of our womer g..
children. the only answer was he intimate
that this nation might be too proud :,
fght."
II was not an isolated sentence, or e, e.
ceptional declaration Of policy. In the test
Of the fact that Mr. Bryan had declared tis
while ne was Secretary Of State no u.
should ever be conducted BY this country, ?,
matter how grave the justification migh. b,
Nr. Wilson appointed NJ. Bryan Secretary o.
State.
II was Nr Bryan who gave 10 the Au,tri.,
Ambassador the assurance that the frs. e
the Lusitsnia notes was only intended 'ci
home consumption. and hr. Wilson's "t',
nroud 10 fqh-" speech. which is likely % 3,
his party's epitaph. had the same unmistsa
bic intimation 70 every foreign power SIC.
~ least has been its consistent policy for N,
United states has patiently submitted TO nor
indignities since this began thsH i' has
suffered in all the rest Of its history pu, ,'.
gether.
Mr.. Lincoln once said that this cosr.
try could not continue half slave a..
half free. ] paraphrase this and sag ss'
civilization cannot continue one-hali Re
slave Of autocratic miltsrism and the ohg
half free and liberal democracy.
Either democracy or absoiutsm Is goire
triumph. and this country owes a moral e-r
10 accept some share Of the awful burden q.
responsibility. even though lis only part A p
expression Of moral sympathy For n
country in the day OF its greatness and p'M
70 shirk and skulk IN this supreme crisis
civilization behind a policy OF political '''
lion is moral suicide There is 90 aa'gf
that this country will not continue 70 oe ne
The only question is whether it will De ~
and rotten. Oil.
Great nations are fashioned in harlsf
discinline and adversty. II takes the RE D
affection 20 temper the steel Of character a.i
This Is as true Of a nation ss o. the 1''
vidual
n this nation is only true 70 itself ar' p
he ideals which called It into beng y car
not then be truly false % any nationi ol' -'
sad and tragic fact Of The last e'sa''s,
months. OF which all thoughtful Amene'''
are more or less conscious, IS that We 'af
not oeen altogether true to our own Ideals
Here then is moral issue for the KeI'o'
lean party as great as that Of slavery j .
not d question Of success or iaiure'
question Of moral duty. .r
New York. Feb rs. 1915