New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-11
The Submarine Question Is a Mere
Side Issue; 1t Is the Cause of
Democratic Humanity That
BeCkOnS Us to War

the pretence that their country is young
and needless. They will hardly, should
think, have the face to continue doing So
The poise and maturity of American feel
ing and conduct since relations with Ger
many were broken off have been unexcep
tionabe There has been no flag wagging,
no hysteria, no clamoring for war, but at
the same time not the slightest evidence
of any reluctance to accept it if it comes.
In the twenty years that l have known
America | cannot recall that | have ever
been more struck than by the steadfast-
ness, patience and dignity of the popular
bearing during the past few days.
No doubt the nation has been largely
influenced by, and to a considerable extent
has taken its cue from, the attitude
adopted at Washington. Having acted
without haste or the slightest show of
temper, but with peremptory decisiveness,
and having stated in the clearest language
Just what he would do in the event of the
destruction of American lives or ships, the
President has been scrupulous in his avoid
ance of any deed or word that might in
fame the situation. So far as surface in
LEGATIONS go, there is barely sign that
the United States government is entertain
ing even the possibility of war, much less
is preparing for it. Although Austria
Hungary has subscribed to the new Ger
~ NH G.
sador has not been handed his passports.
Although American ships are hesitating,
as they we'll might, to enter the war zone
and in effect are blockaded in American
ports, the United States government has
declined to furnish them with conveys.
Although the experience of the Allied ma
items has shown the dangers of permit
ting the unrestricted naturalization OF
aliens at time of crisis, the United States
government has done nothing to prevent
German subjects from enrolling themselves
as Americans citizens and enjoying all the
privileges of their new status. Although
war may burst out at almost any moment,
end although the German espionage sys-
tenn is notorious, the United States Gov
crnment, so far as is known, has refrained
from rounding up the spies, of whose &C
Invites, / do not doubt, it has pretty
complete record. Although one of the
most anxious problems before the world is
the shortage of shipping, and 1t would
have been possible for the American au-
thorities, by slightly stretching a point, to
have taken charge of the German vessels
now lying in the east coast harbors, the
United States Government has allowed
them to be dismantled and rendered use
less for American and all other purposes.
1t is, of course, inconceivable that be-
hind the scenes it has not taken prepare
tory action of some kind. But clearly
the Presidents policy has been to do moth
ing to provoke the ultimate crisis, which
apparently, by doing nothing, he still has
hopes of averting. His handling of the
situation has been strictly legal, strictly
correct, strictly pacific. He has refused
OF set purpose to take advantage of the
openings that lay before him. He will
not force the issue. If Germany forces it,
that is another matter. Then he will
meet it. But he is determined, it would
seem, and in this he has not merely the