New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-25
Wearing the Kaiser's Coat.

familiar with the operation OF Neii""i' -
,rigue in other countries, they could not
mistake what has now taken place IN
Washington. Exactly one year ago the
same thing happened in Rome. AT that
time German tools, German agents,
German-owned Italian politicians at
tempted TO turn out patriotic ministry
"a serve German ends. This Is the way
Germany always works. The Democratic
party and the Democratic leaders in Con-
gress are simply playing the part that
Giolitti and his supporters played IN the
Italian Parliament one year ago-the part
which means the betrayal of their own
country for political or pecuniary per
sonal gain.
No Republican Member of Congress
should mistake the duty that Is now
before him. There is no older or nobler
tradition in the Republican party than
that which proclaims it the defender OF
national safety and honor. Never IN our
long history has there been a graver need
Cor courage and patriotism. Never before
IN our national history has there been a
.ase where a political party has delloer-
stely made American rights the coin for
barter With Sc a,,:., melton. Never before
has a political party openy and shame
,essly proposed to surrendeT American
rights to a foreign nation that 1t might
receive in return the domestic votes con-
,roled by the alien nation.
II Mr.. Wilson means what he has written
to Senator Stone; if he is at last resolved
90 make q stand to preserve the shred OF
honor which he has left US; if he IS at last
willing to drop cowardice and adopt Amer
;canism, he is entitled to Republican sup
port. he is entitled to the support OF all
Americans precisely as long as he stands
by his new position; but whether Mr. VIII
son stands or runs, the principle deserves
the loyal and the unfaltering support OF
every Republican. The whole question OF
the future is at stake-frst for the nation
and secondly for the Republican party.
The Democrats in Congress have sold out
to the Germans They have turned over
the machinery of our legislative hrancn &c
The agents OF the German Government II
this country. The party which abandoned
.,r Iusitania dead and fled every subse-
nc duty Of national protection has now
opposed TO bargain away the last sem
bance of self-respect and independence
against the Elusive hope Of German-Amer-
lean votes next November.
Terrified by the fact that at last the
executive branch Of our government has
begun to perceive that no concession, no
humiliation, no obsequiousness, will avail
and that what German craftsmanship asks
is not concession, but unconditional com
plance, the German agents have gone TO
the Capitol. they have established them
selves in the new headquarters and they
are using the cowardice, the sclfshness and
the greed of Democratic politicians to dom
mate the policy Of the nation and coerce an
Executive who until yesterday was their
victim, whose escape from them must be
but temporary if their ends are to be
achieved.
Not since Abraham Lincoln was chosen
TO sit in the White House has there been
a graver crisis than that of the moment.
The crisis in our relations with Germany
is nothing The question of war or peace
abroad is Of comparative insignifcance.
The real crisis is domestic, the real peril
is at home The party which at the mo-
ment controls a majority in the United
States Senate and House OF Representa-
tivcs, for the sake of the political profit
II expects to bring home, has deliberately
betrayed American interests and is seek
ing to surrender American rights to Ger
many.
This thing has been done openly. shame
cssly, without the smallest semblance Of
regard for decency or the outward color
of honor. The Democratic party leaders
need the votes. They believe that the Ger
man-American agents can deliver the
votes. This being true they are prepared
10 deliver the American rights which the
German agents demand; they are willing