New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-03
A Great Document


ing President Wilson'S message to Con-
cress at the moment of is delivery, 1t
seems ono Of the great documents Of his
tory, rcechoing in a new and yet in the
origin. spirit those noble words of Lin
coin. with malice TO none
Certainly no document that Mr. Wilson
has written since he took Office has so COM
pletely expressed the decision Of the Amer
lean people as that message to Congress in
which the President last night set forth
the case Of the American democracy, Of
democracy the world over, against that
German autocracy which has borrowed the
name as it has adopted the character of
Prussianism.
If anything were needed to give TO the
Presidents indictment a final force it was
the fact that coincident with his address
there arrived the news of the murder Of
more Americans and the sinking Of one
more American ship. The fact Of war has
long been before us; it needed only the
words of the President Of the United
States long withheld, 10 establish clearly
in the minds Of the least thoughtful that
peace with Germany, as it is at present
organized was impossible.
1t would be difficult to improve upon
Mr.. Wilson's indictment of the German
assault. rot upon American lives alone
but, as he properly and justly pointed out,
upon mankind. 1t is. as he said, war
fare upon mankind that Germany is max
ing and that Germany which is making it
is, in fact, an outlaw"
Those who most regret that the Presi-
dent has so long delayed his declaration
will be the first to recognize that, having
come to the point ne has drawn an indict-
ment which will remain fixed in the minds
Of his own people and will be welcomed
and properly acclaimed by those nations
and by those peoples which nave long car
ried forward the bitter struggle with the
German menace at close range.
No man can exaggerate the moral effect
in Europe to-day of President Wilson's
word The last great neutral nation. the
last great civilized people, having long OBJ
served the progress Of the world war with
earnest desire to avoid the conflict, has at
last proclaimed through its Chief Execu-
tive that peace with a German spirit in
the world is impossible
To-day the news of Americas decision
will be passed from mouth to mouth along
that firing line in France which is the
present frontier of civilization. Those who
saved democracy at the Marine and Yer
dun. those who halted the German flood
at Ypres and the Somme, will find new
encouragement for their bitter task in the
news that one more great free people has
Joined in the common resistance to a com
mon peril.
Nor shall one overestimate the meaning
TO a Russian people newly freed from its
chains, of the announcement that the
Oldest of great republics has taken its
stand beside the Youngest
And tomorrow may it not be that to
words there will be joined acts and Amer
lean soldiers will take their place beside
the other soldiers Of liberty? For not the
least admirable of the Presidents declara-
tons is that which calls for universal SER
vice, for that training of the manhood Of
America which will enable the nation TO
perform it's share in the great task Of
liberating mankind from the German men
ace. Not less admirable are those wise
suggestions outlining the future coopera-
ton of this country with those already en-
listed in the great struggle.
No praise can be too high for the words
and the purposes of the President. Never
in all the long period in which he has
directed American policy has he seemed
10 come nearer to the ideal of the Amer
lean people, the ideal Of President who
should lead, not one who watchfuH
awaited the decision Of a people who
themselves asked for light.
We are done with many illusions, some