The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-03
Praise for Artists.

"ln a moment when our representa-
t1ves are entaneled In "A scholarly dis
cussion and ~befogsing the will of the
people and never thinking OF represent
Ing US, the artists have taken their
place and have become the since re dele
gates Of public opinion. Later their
children will remember that they nave
not allowed us to le looked upon a. re-
Oponsible for an ambiguous policy. Their
action and their devotion manifes the
inward feeling of this nation.
SIN this war. where the moral ~,estln-
'ioa of humanity are at stake, nobody IN
the world has the right to remain in.
different, We Americans less than any
one else. for W have inherited "A mag
nifcent tradition of virtue. our moral
and spiritual existence Is ruined if We
remain passive. for the future will prove
that in such "A war the only real dead
are the ncutrals. II 10y neutrals is meant
those who have in nc way upheld the
rights nor fulfilled the sacred duties OF
civilization"
James NJ. Beck expressed his hearty
sympathy for France. .'e,olced in the
Justice of Frances cause and firmly held
TO the belief that France will win. /,
was not at all difficult to perceive that
the passive attitude of the United States
Government was not pleasing to NJ;
Beck.
"There could not possibly he a more
deserving charity than tnls,' said Nj.
Beck, III it were nothing more than
an appeal from France To the great and
Opulent country France helped to Great Ia
the appeal would be It's own vindica,ion,
Few people appreciate the extent OF this
obligation incurred in those days that
tried mems souls TIE American Revo-
tuition was "a act O, sublime audacity,
Tor the reason that there Was not in our
country n mtnufactory 70 furnish the
equipment of war. Long before DR.
Franklin reached Paris and before Bur
goyne had surrendered to Gates at sara
.toGa France. AT the risk of ~dntagonizlng
the greatest empire in the world, Was
secretly equipping W~ashingtOn's armies
with the Indispensable munitions of war,
without which the Revolution would IN
evitably have ended In u t!asco.
But our debt to France can be put
on other grounds. She has enriched ths
human mine and sou by her inestlmablc
contributions to ait, literature and music
The whole world and especially Amer
tea. Is in this sense her debtor. II We
W. much to Lafayette, Rochambeau
and DE Grasse We also " much To
Corot, Greu2e, Gerone. Dctaille, Cain,
Constant. Daubigny. Rousseau and
others,
The artists OF France are now fight
ing IN the trenches for the existence OF
their noble country and for the sacred
rights Of humanity, and as they are toe
little inspired in their lives by merely
%pecuniary considerations they are leav'
ing behind them dependent families
many Of whom are in want. To help
these Is IN imperative duty"
DIR. Humphreys said that he had come
20 the exhibition as the representative of
the Society OF the Cincinnati, IN. Oldest
Of American military orders.
II would be untrue to the order" he
continued, iii | did not express my ap-
4voval and fondness for the great French
nation, the people of whom are really
striving to carry. out the same ideas OF
Justice and deceRcy that our " fathers
fought and died for.
1--WE are real Americans hcre-not
.hyphenated. nor. weak kneed. nor spins-
,less. We are not afraid to say what
Nc think, what is in the minds Of nine
aenths OF our people at least The Ame-i-
,ssn people feel a very real sympathy for
France and this is being expressed In
.-Nords and Deeds"