The Washington herald., 1917-03-31
An Ancient Tale.
New York Timesl

New York Times)
very famiiar to us, outworn with much
repetition, is Chancellor Won Bethmann
Hollweg's protest that Germany has de-
sired no war with the United States. does
not desire 1t today. and II war comes
Germany will not have to bear the bur-
den of responsibility for it," Germany
has been making war upon us for nearly
two years, of late with intensified law
lessness and atrocity. The chanceIlor's
words rang false and hollow. Peculiarly
hypocritical is his insistence that Ger
many began the submarine warfare to
compel England in her policy Of blockade
to observe the laws of humanity and
international agreement" '"'
The remark of a Socialist member Of
the Reichstag that the new submarine
campaign had been ordered from fear
of new orientation" was disturbing to
the submissive and obedient members of
that body. Although the Socialist veiled
his meaning as best he could behind u
word substituted for revolution, his
hearers knew what he meant That sub
jcct is evidently of growing interest in
Germany. Eut in this country we are no
longer interested in German arguments
in support of assassination at sea. So
far as we are concerned discussion is at
an end.
AHaucApHAA kcuBeF.
The reported detention of the Ameri-
cans in Belgium. including our Minister,
Mr.. Whitlock. does not bring us "a step
nearer war" although. II one stops to
think what ii would mean in times Of
unqualified peace, It can easily be made
to appear as grave an insult as any that
in the past has led to hostilities. But the
present war is not like any war that
ever was waged. and II is constantly
necessary to revise our old formulas in
order to get the proper proportions Of
things. One thing that this new indica-
ton Of Germanys determination to vio-
late the rights of Americans shows Is
that the Berlin government considers
every American a spy. The Germans
are more willing to call a spade a spade
than We are. For if Mr.. Whitlock did
observe important military operations in
Belgium, about which on his immediate
release he would properly inform the
allies. it would be hard for a German Of
ficer to see why he should not be de-
tanned for a month until the operations
in question had developed and were no
longer military secret. America has
for two years put at the command of
the Allies her inventive genius, her ad-
vice, her sympathy. her supplies. There
is some reason for German officers.
lrealizing that their whole western line
may cave in and be driven back to the
Rhine. to feel that Americans in Belgium
are not exactly trusted and amiable
friends.
New York Evening Post.
1t is so easy being a volunteer Presi-
dent here in New York! Any one Of a
hundred men. whom We might name II
they were not so averse to publicity
| could tell you in a minute just what
Wilson ought TO do. But he. unfortu-
nately for these rapid-fre gentlemen,
is President OF the whole country. He
has to take into account sentiment not
only in the seaboard States but In the
great middle stretches of the land. And
he has to plan and work so as to secure
as nearly as possible united support for
his measures. Now, 1t appears, as by
Washington dispatches even in the Sun
that Representatives and Senators ar.
irving at the capital are not at all SC
Cock-sure about what should be done as
are certain impetuous people in these
| parts. People in the West are just as
stout patriots as We are in the East
| They are as ready to fight to defend the
| na ton, and into the war, II II is newt
| able, they will pour their strength a
| freely as any. But they have their doubts
concerning the next step that ought tc
be taken. These doubts may be very un-
TeaSOnaDle ana SOTQlO, out tneie IneS
are, and President Wilson has to find a
way of overcoming them, and OF persuad-
| ing all sections to follow his lead. This
| may look as easy as many said it was
| for Lincoln to emancipate the slaves in a
month and win the Civil War In a year
but, somehow, the statesman who has tC
| do the actual work usually finds that he
can't hack his way through with the
ina ginary ease of the critical bystander
What England Has Learned.
Kansas City STAR
England is prepa ring to call yet an
other army to its colors. This is the
country that went into tine war with the
volunteer system and with the sign "As
Usual hung in its shop windows. II
has learned now. what all countries that
go to war in these days must learn. that
war is a business that will have no riv-
ais, that it must be waged with undivided
parties and with every resource of men,
money, industry and invention that 1t is
fortunate enough to possess.
Modern war. as other countries than
England are finding out, makes for de-
mocracy. 1t is bound to. 1t is not a
game that can be played any more by
anv one class 1t calls for equal partici-
patton from all classes. All men, all
wealth. all forms of property are under
conscription for the preservation Of all.
When the volunteer system broke down
the sign LAS Usual disappeared from
the shop doors. 1t is now hung on the