New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-29
A Rededication

1t lacks just month now Of beng 'hree
wears since the representatives OF the
French, British and Russian governments
signed an agreement to fight the war out
When that agreement was signed Vlcto-
r;ous German armies were approaching
Paris. the French government was already
on its way to Bordeaux and German VIC
tory seemed inevitable.
Now. after three years, we have re-
dedication. We have reaffirmation OF the
determination of the nations which nave
been fighting this war to continue until the
German menace is finally abolished, until
the doctrine of force and the policy OF
,utblessness have been defeated unmis'
takably.
The declaration of purpose OF the Aliles
in Paris is one to which all Americans can
subscribe. 1t is one which should be IN
oorsed officially by the United States gov
eminent.
The main issue of the war remains what
il was on the day when the first herman
troops broke into Belgium in defiance OF
all human obligation and moral law. The
;ssue If the war remains what it was when
German troops turned Louvain INTO
sbambles. 1t remains what 1T was on
the morning of the Lusitanla' when
American women and children, together
with those of other nations, were slaugh-
tered TO satisfy a German purpose. We
were more fortunate than the French OF
the Belgians in that the Germans were
ohio only 70 murder our women and not to
dishonor them. But their purpose ana
their method were written into the Lusi-
tania in unmistakable fashion. a
Let us not be misled in this war by any
talk of provinces or indemnities while the
question of principle remains unsettled
While the German nation believes that II
has the right to murder the innocent, to
dishonor the helpless, to enslave the weak
there can be no peace, and any one who
talks peace advocates compromising that
infamy and negotiating that shame,
There can be no peace with the German
Government or with the German people,
whatever their form of government, as
long as they maintain the right to live
outside of international law There can be
No neace while German armies and Ger
man soldiers continue to write over the
face of Europe that spirit which produced
the war, which made the war the thing it
is and which makes Germany the peril to
all our common civilization that she is.
If the American people wish, as Senator
n Borah suggested the other day, restate.
ment of issues, one need not go outside the
case of Belgium, one need not go beyond
the example of the Lusitania, to find it..
\ How shall one bargain with wild beast?
I How shall one talk of peace with Ger
! many which confronts the world red
+ handed and unashamed, still renewing the
+ old threats and still engaged in the same
crimes?
Such adversities as have come to the
Allied side in recent months should be, and
must be, only new incentive to greater
effort and larger sacrifice. We have seen
the procession of German horrors unfold
ing for three years, from the moment of
the invasion of Belgium to the hour when
women and children were driven into
slavery-themselves the survivors of those
who have been murdered and dshonored.
How can any man or woman think Of
peace now, when Germany faces the world
unashamed and unrepentant, considering
only what portion of the booty wrung
from the world by violence she may retain
low and forever?
This war is beyond all things else a
fight of spiritual forces against material
ambition. Our civilization has been
wounded, its very soul and life have been
threatened; and until that civilization is
indicated and re-establshed it is idle to
talk of peace it is futile to discuss an
agreement
There are those who would have the
United States now lead in peace move
nent because they are afraid that il we do
not lead Germany will conquer even more
absolutely than they think she has con
n.,...d ,o,y Thev would have the world