Willmar tribune., 1916-11-01
of both sides have condemned the Presi
dents neutral policies.


Because President Wilson would not
challenge war with one side by propos-
actions with it in munitions which it
could transport across the ocean, parti-
sans of the other side, which is as free
able to carrv purchases home, have de-
nounced him; and some pacifsts unin-
formed of the nature Of International
san. implication of an embargo under
such circumstances, have echoed those
partisan outcries. But no calm judg-
that policy. An opposite one, not this
one, would have been the unneutral
policy.
Because the President made impera-
tive demands upon one belligerent for
cessation of novelties in warfare which
endangered American lives, and did not
the other for cessation Of novelties
that affect nothing but personal COM
fort or property rights, there went up
Of his
re-echoed by the biased and the
thoughtless. But is there not differ
ence between. wrongs that affect only
| that endanger human life? One kind
can be redressed in money damages af-
ter ti a war, war; as 1T the a+,aE alabama" depreda-
dressed at all. President Wilson has
recognized this humane distinctions; and
who dares condemn him for it, except
In every way, to the fullest extent
| Of the possibilities of human Judgment
has President Wilson's administration
preserved the neutrality which at the
claimed. In doing so he has kept this
country out of war, and has done il
without yielding anything that gener.
GUS American patriotism ought not tc
No idle saying is it that Wilson has
kept US out Of war;" He has done it ir
With national honor, too:
With a kind Of national honor, to bt
sure, which swashbuckling patriots car ear
a chip on his shoulder can appreciate
the honorable self-restraint of the mar
who won't knock it off.
eo1ntry "t 20 for St!e%s the IDEALS to which It i
dedicated, and their flag for what i
symbolizes. the President has kept u:
of aa the to the seea rqa Tory n9nSr of
We now know that If .unhappily W
should become involved in war unde
%hr st fne Of dr6p as Of # wSae a
would not be war of our seeking, j
would not be war that we could avoid
# war should come under adeanhh him. ,o it Woul
responsible statesmanship on a Presi
dents part cou Id avert :,
is said eye that
by warlike policies.. How would tha
dispose of the fact. that nevertheless h
has kept ,;+u us SO out of wa var? White uous
long ago. 1t is at least doubtful if :,
consistently strict pacifist there coul
have been run over and trampled upo
. by the stampede which his absolut
peace attitude would have been used t
| 1nkn OF {ron vTyhn q ri iof
had almost everything their own way
, from newspapers and magazines
moving picture IS shows and Up, Pu>pits;+ pa+
> out of war;
The blessings Of a peace-loving pei
pie should be his reward; their prayer
izing policy should encourage him.
| Can we ignore the significance Of tt
fact that the overwhelming militarist
propaganda collapsed with the going
tns %i3s to tas an
the most pronounced military act I
the President. Its sole intention W;
war with that country. But it had
greater effect.
march, and the meaning OF war be-
thereby brought home to mothers al
| sweethearts and wives the: whole cou
| try over, 10 tIl0 UuSlLcSS AIlcIcSIS ~
which do not depend for prosperity u
on bloodshed-no sooner had this 9
Cured than the militaristic scream f
preparedness" was hushed.
The people really did not want WI
They really did not want militaris
however acquiescent, they may ha
And the realistic dramatizaton of t
march Of masses of young men to
foreign border made this undercurre
Of sentiment articulate.
The march of troops to Mexico "
vastly more effective upon the pub
mind, to say nothing of its being
finitely more wholesome, than the p!
nicious moving-picture drama whi
the munitions makers had SO expe,
lively staged.
Is preparedness" legislation count
among President Wilson's warlike ac1
IL Read, then, it's provisions toward t
ing out of private hands the manuf
ture Of munitions Of war. These ,
long step toward removing one Of
impelling causes Of war-the influel
lof interests which find their profits