New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-07
MR.. GLEASON A TRUE WITNESS
Strong Endorsement of His Testimony by
Another Investigator
To tho Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of he Tribune.
Sir: VIII you grant me the snace to say
few words in praise and Endorsement OF
Arthur Gleasons account Of his experience
and observation in Belgium and France?
From time TO time, as they have appeared in
your Sunday issues since my return from
Belgium, have read these Trustworthy ana
German-convcting articles.
Also | have read the comment on them
which appeared in "The Independent" THE
Literary Digest" and in that journalistic
paranoiac, "The New York Call"
We may dismiss these critics with word.
None Of them is informed or comprehending.
One is an exponent of the new brand OF
"Americanism" the brand which appears 70
substitute expedency for principle and calls
the passive acceptance of assault and insult
pacifism; the second has little original war
thought, and that little shutting; the thirds
vacuity in the premises is revealed by its
illusions to the alleged German atrocities
in Belgium.
And together they are illustrative OF a
certain type of editorial incumbency which,
rooted in its narrow-visioned New York Sc
curity, shut in by its canyoned streets, yet
presumes in its stupid vanity to challenge
the facts Of man who tells the facts as he
has secured them on the ground!
Gleason is not only above criticism as to
his facts, but the language of his recital is
surprisingly temperate
From first hand data gathered all over
Belgium, and in Northern France and Poland,
can and do unqualifedly indorse him. His
articles offer a picture so vivid, so truthful,
so eloquent Of German atrocity and Belgian
French suffering that they should bring home
to the people of the United States a complete
realization of the horrors of that Prussian
campaign of license and brutality.
OF some of the specific cases he instances
have no individual knowledge; but | have
knowledge of similar ones and ! can bring
forward reliable witnesses with knowledge
of yet others equally specific and monstrous,
in addition to those known personally to
Gleason and me-which is to say that cases
are abundant.
indorse Gleason:
!. Because OF my own corroborating in
vestigatons on the ground.
?. For his accurate estimate Of the Ger
man people in Germany, of whom he says
there has been mo instance of noble force
so diverted since the days of the Inquisition'
but "the nationalism of the German
people will yet vindcate itself and swing
true to freedom and justice"
3. For his correct representation of the
German officer and imperial -miltaristic
spirit, which regards its own soldiers as
dogs and all the rest of the world as in
ferior beings for whose uplift German
style) and coercion it has especial qualifca
tions and divine privileges.
4. For his understanding of the French
spirit and the Glove of the peasantry for the
soil" How often as | rode through the
storm-swept section of Northern France have
come to families clinging TO the menaced
home which might be destroyed on the NOR
row and offered little safety or comfort at
best.
5. For his temperate recital OF the horrors
committed by the German military.
6. Because he speaks for the genuine
Americans who grevously resent their Pres
ident's public declarations that with the
causes and results" of this great conflict Eve
are not concerned" that those fighting the
fight for civilization are "madmen" and that
the aims of the Allies and Germany are "the
same"
7. Because in his work he represents the
spirit Of the historic American tradition of
the Americans who recognize that the Allies
fighting for the principles for which we
once fought before the new brand of "Amer-
canism" became "too proud TO fight" and
peace-at-any- price propagandists outsped the
minute men" in scramble to reach the
Presidential ear
indorse the accuracy of Gleasons stories
because, as ! say, my own Investigations and
the Investigations Of those whom | know to be
reliable corroborate them; and | applaud
his spirit, because he and the others OF the
same mould are our reliance against the
enervating influences which are responsible
for our standing to-day, unprepared, mac
tive and unrighteous, fattening on fight to
the death for human rights.
CASPAR WHITNEY.
Bronxville, ". Y, Feb. 2S 1917.