New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-16
tor Of Tho Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: as II possible that out OF our life
as young. strong, free and united people
we have nothing TO give"-toward mediation
It is possible-for certain emphatic reasons
And this fervent peace plea by Bertha Kunz
Baker. OF the American Neutral Conference
Committee, illustrates tho peculiar danger OF
peace propaganda at this time; that its emil
nent rightness, spiritually and economically
enlists our finest minds.
II. G. Wells says in the person OF Mr.. Brlt-
ling: Fools and knaves, politicians trick
sters and those who trade on the suspicious
and thoughtless, generous sngers OF men,
make wars; the Incidence and modesty OF the
mass Of men permit them" Yet the pacifst
Wells, because he Is in tho midst OF this par
ticular war, reduces discussion OF II 70 its
root, the German mind, and thus concludes:
"You did not want 20 unity the world. You
wanted TO set the foot OF an intensely nation
al Germany. "a sentimental and Liberal Ger
many, a Germany that treasured the portraits
of your ridiculous Kaiser and his litter Of
sons, Germany wearing uniform, reading
black letter, and despising every kultur but
her own, upon tho neck of a divided and
Inundated mankind. II was an intolerable
prospect. 7 had rather the whole world died"
Is the German mind fine mind? That is,
has 10 changed its spiritual temper since the
march through Belgium? Pick up your paper
to-day and read Of worse atrocities there.
Germany may mouth acquiescence in scheme
of universal brotherhood, making for peace; ;
she remains Germany. Any humanitarian
discussion which does not take into account
the German mind is incubating danger. For
this precocious scientific giant whose only
moral consideration is cXpediency remains
a menace. And those countries whom our
pacifsts would have US believe to be war
weary have in this last week reconstructed
their governments for new and more resolute
efforts.
America did We but think! is most cx-
posed TO this menace For We have no reali-
cation Of IL and no system 10 meet IT. We
are occupied with charitable bazaars and
convincing eacn other Of the general pitiabil-
ity Of war; preparedness IS a discarded
and forgotten campaign slogan. us n pos
eiblc that out Of our life as a young, strong,
free and united people we have nothing TO
givc?o It IS possible becaFse We are not
a strong. free and united people. While
orr finest minds are visoning a noble peace
they 90 unprotected. Amid general pros
peritv. so-called, base minds scheme. Most
of All does the German mind scheme. Ameri-
cans-as defined by history and constitution
are like amiable capitalists debating whether
to help friend, wondering whether help
will give offence, much concerned, and all
the time did they but know 1t, without that
voting majority which gives them where
withaL
Visualize the hosts Of invasion that have
crept I'm unseen in the niZht-the hosts, not
Of immigrants alone. but of the fecund fam
lilies Of immigrants You whose ancestors
have bequesthed you the heritage Of Revolu-
tionary ideals, TO whom our President seems
so pitfu a figure, direct your car through
the teeming lower districts Of such city as
New York and face eye to eye mob SUN
Gent TO push your motor back. Be grateful
that your representative in the White House
is not named Hofbrsuhauser and that you
yourself are alive.
The America of tradition, about which so
much is said, is supplanted By an America OF
fact Drifting upon the sufferance OF past
prestige we have been for some time, and
now disloyal Teutons and the Irish, solidlhed,
give to our government al increasing sem