New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-04
INTELLECTUALLY INSiNCERt
A Critic Who Says Americans arc
Tired OF Cant.
To Tho Ediior ~ Tho Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Your recent editorial "Where Mr.
Wilson Has Failed U.s. did not convince or
please me. In fnct. il has my hearty disap-
rroval. But DO not let that worry you. IL
the language Of Dulcnea, you cannot please
every one.
The reason this sort Of defamation ruf-
nes me is that it is obviously insincerH. Not
morally insincere. but intellectually insin-
ccre. You do not come out and say what you
want You obscure the issue with log oil
fine words.
DO Won want the United States 70 90 10 war
with Germany?
II so, declare yourselves!
Do YOU want US to make war on Germany
because you think Germany should be beaten
to n FRAGILE. and because your heart rs with
the Allies?
If so, state your motives
Don't try to befuddle any one into the no
ton that the United States - justified m go
ing 10 war with the Central Powers for the
protection of neutral rights. You are TOO
intelligent TO believe that. See here Has
our neutrality been interpreted IN any way
Tint has offered aid or succor 20 the Central
Powers? Is our neutrality anything but
.Ltchlv "bcnevolcnt" toward the Allies? ny
cur stupendous shipments Of munitions oil
way and by our loans of money We have nol
left a single German unconvnced mat the
limited States is a virtual enemy Of his coun-
try.
What more do you want?
England has. IN a legal sense invaded our
rights as fagrantly as Germany ana Aus
tria. lOf course. you condone Englaud's I'M
e. G q
and economic damage. But don't forget that
the Fathers. whom you laud so highly. fought
the Revolution over a stamp tax You have
read Mr.. Edwin J. Clapp. We'll, has the adj
ministrat!on called England and France
ebornlv 20 account? Have you heard any
threats when England killed our trade
opened our mails seized our citizens? Have
YOU heard of any prosecutions OF Butsh
agents for recruiting In this country! Con
trast our supine attitude toward the Alles
with the relentless bounding Of German
agents for every little technical violation oil
neutral rights. and with the grand thunder
over important violations. Every time the
british have trampled on us the admlnistra-
ton has said:
"Mv dear fellow, can't you see that you arc
quite wrong
Every time the Germans have trampled on
ms the administration has said:
"You damned ruiiian, quit that, instantly
What more could you ask
what do YOU want. anyway? A diplomatic
bronx with Austria and Germany If break
Cccurs YOU will laud il to-day, and tomorrow
condemn IL az ineffective and futile II lou
want action, real action. you want war. Why
not say so?
And YOUR reasons are % impor;an' as your
object. If we 20 20 war over neutral rights
600 shall have 70 fight both sides az once.
Thu, means preparedness IA earnest Or we
ehoU f,ht by tho side o. allies who'e m
terpretaticn of sea law is no more accep'a
bro IA us than tina. Of our foes. I'm any event
70 90 70 war over our rights" would be non
eoreical II would accomplish nothing az
what cost Tho ono big point about neu-
trail rights IS simply this a point you 90
rcu.iou): that neither side has offered VS.
direct offence. We have simply been caught
between the firing lines Here are Two great
croups Of powers battling % The death ley
arc both crazcd by fear blinded by h9'"'
They use every weapon against each o'"e'
tboy can. legitimate or not, legal or not
N.,+roIs are simply ignored Neuuals must
bo neutral. not Dee dancing perpetua.y on inc
edge Of war
S. leave American lights out OF e. II you
want us 10 intervene I'm a European war u
is because Of your opinion Of tho European
ri.f, or wrong of it. Don't b" dragging IN
humanity" at every breath. Ny main obJec-
tion 10 your manner Of argument as that you
~, 10 out-whimper Wilson. You wax ire
mordouslv ethical You pirate about lusJce'
democracy. liberty, ideals and civilization.
Get of that stuff!
A,,oricaus arc tired ~ big words, Of
1randiose buster, Of cant. They have sick
encd Of the moral pose Of either side. As you
know full well. the vast majority o. Amer
cans who live more than ten miles from the
Atlantic Ocean have concluded that TINS Is
a selfish impcrialstic war from top 20 bot
tom. and no concern Of theirs. IT you G4"['
fror, ,bcm. saw so straight from the shout
der and tell precisely why you differ.
With your fanatic Anglophile pre- udices !
cannot EXPECT you 10 be fair At least be
o.,45 ROLAND HuGINS.
ithaca. ~ Y. Dec. 81, 1915