The Washington herald., 1917-04-05
Running Amuck.
Christian Science Monitor.)

Christian Science Monitor)
The speech addressed last night by the
President of the United States to the
Houses Of Congress- is one of the most
momentous which any President has ever
been called upon to make. For the first
time in the history of the country the
government and the people are prepar-
ing to intervene in a European war. and
they are preparing to intervene in de-
fense of those ideals which led the early
pilgrims to seek liberty of conscience be-
yond the Atlantic and the United Colonies
to challenge the right of an autocratic
government to circumscribe their politi-
cal liberties.
There was no more remarkable passage
In Mr.. Wilson'S speech than that in
which he frankly declared that friend
ship with a government as absolutely
hostile to all democratic institutions as
Is the government of Germany today,
was an impossibility. I'VE are accepting
this challenge of hostile purpose" he de-
clared. because we know that in such a
government, following such methods, we
cannot have friend; and that in the
pursuance of its organized power, al
ways lying in wait to accomplish. We
know not what purpose, there can be no
assured security for the democratic gov
ernments Of the world" Nor was Mr..
Wilson content to leave this charge with
out a precise definition. He was careful
to explain that the quarrel of the United
States, as indeed 1t is true of the quarrel
of the allied powers, was not with the
German people. but was with the survival
of an almost feudal system of govern
ment, which makes war today, as war
was made centuries ago. by rulers in
spired purely by dynastic or ambitious
aims, and with the utmost contempt for
the desires of the people whom they
ruled .
Finally, Mr.. Wilson declared that he
recognized that 1t was a fearful thing to
lead a great peaceful power into war
But there was something more precious
than peace. and that thing was right.
going into the war to fight for that
democracy which had always been the
ideal OF the country, and to such a task
they might, as a privilege. dedicate their
lives and their fortunes. everything they
were, and everything they had. since 1t
was in the defense of those principles
which had given the country her birth.
and happiness. and the peace which she
had treasured.
President was making his speech. the
final Justification OF II was being pro-
vided. The news was coming through of
the torpedoing, in a dark night and in a
heavy sea, of the Aztec. sailing from
New York to Hsvre. The circumstances
of the loss of this ship. with. 1t is feared.
part of her crew. is an object lesson in
the justice OF the Presidents indictment
Of the reckless barbarity of the German
underseas warfare. Either, It is obvious.
the intercourse of the world must cease.
or the mad policy of the German rulers
must be stopped. No more terrible con-
demnation Of a Christian and civilized
government has ever been heard than
that that in which the President of the
United States charged the policy of Ber-
lin as being that OF IAN irresponsible
government which has thrown aside all
consideration of humanity and of right.
and is running amuck."
Too Much History.
1hs IndependsntD
when the historian of the future
examines the causes of the great war
he will list among them the unfortu-
nate European habit of vividly remem-
bering the remote past. Every nation
which has lost a province cherishes
the hope of some day reconquering 1t,
regardless Of the changes which time
has made. Every nation which was
defeated in an ancient war broods still
on "old. unhappy. far-ofr things and
battles long ago" Worst of all. every
crime tndL ndtlOn mas committed III
the past centuries Is brought out from
the cobweb-covered chambers OF his
tory and furbished up again to stim-
ulate the hate of enemies and cool
the friendship of neutrals or allies.
OF course. we do not object to in
sistence upon the past where It relates
directly to the problems of the pres
ent, but we do not like this promis-
cuous resurrection of the irrelevant.
It is right to point out, for example,
that Prussia took part in the division
Of Poland since Prussia still denies
national rights to her Polish, subjects.
But it would not be right to reproach
Prussia with the sins of Frederick the
Great II she would now turn over a
new leaf and endeavor to undo his
crime. It is right to point out that
England denied the freedom of the
seas in 1912, because such is her policy
today. But 1t is absurd to insist, as
some Germans do. that England put
to death Joan OF Arc. since England
has for a long time honored the brave
Frenchw oman as much as do her own
countrymen.
Boston Transcript.
Today. April 3. is the birthday of
Edward Everett Hale. II he were
alive everybody knows what he would