New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-01
To the Bitter End
From Speech By Senator Hale, Of Maine, in The Onaed
States Senate

with Germany. and ! returned to America
shortly after the break took place louhu
tbroo questions which puzzled the people OF
these countries: First, why, IN view OF tne
lofty ideals set up By this country, we had not
ioincd with the rest Of civilization against
the foe Of civilization; second, why we cou'd
not sec that unless the Allies won the war
We ourselves must inevitably be the next Ter
man objective; and, third, how it was that
self-rcspecting nation could put up with the
aTronts that we have put up with. In taking
with a prominent member of the British MN
istrv. in company with Mr. Frank Simonds'
lust before left England, he asked me what'
in our opinon. would constitute an act OF war
IN the minds Of our countrymen. Would the
sinking of an American frcghter without loss
Of American lives be such an act, or the SINK
ino, of british ship with the loss OF Ameri-
can lives? II never occurred TO him TO ask
about the sinking of an American ship with
the loss Of American lives. And that last
straw did break the camePs back, and we have
declared war. When we gave the German Am
bassador his passports J found the most m
tense satisfaction IN France and England
over our entrance into the war, for SUCH was
considered to be the inevitable consequence
Ct the break. Many people thought that II
meant the beginning of the end Of the war,
not on account of any actual immediate as
sstance that we might give, but on account
Of the moral effect IL was thought that the
entrance Of our country into the war at TINS
period would show conclusiyely to Germany
that there was no possibility OF ultimate VIC
tory for her, and that, realizing this, her night
ing spirit would break Whether or not TINS
will prove to be the case the whole world is
now watching to see. 1t is what we do right
row, what proofs we give to the world right
now of what we intend to do in the war, that
will determine this moral effect.
The question comes down to this: Do we
give to the world the best promise of future
military strength if we adopt the volunteer
system, which in the eyes OF experienced Eu-
rope is a proven failure, or do we so give 1t
il we adopt the plan of CONSUMPTION, which
they know to be effective?
With Every Resource
That we can send sufficient troops TO the
trenches at the present time materially to
change the military situation abroad we know
to be impossible. We are raising vast sums
Of money to help the Allies. This does not
mean that they will be able through this
financial assistance to increase their armament
or to do anything more than they arc now
doing or planning to do. Their every resource
is now being used, or in course Of prepare
tion TO be used, to it's utmost capacity. re-
CARELESS Of the cost. 1t does mean, however,
a reinsurance as to the future which will have
an incalculably greater effect. In the same
way the Allies are not at the present time
faced with a shortage of men, but just as
financially we assure them for the future, so
IN this matter Of men the feeling that in the
future they can count on US will give i'm
measurable comfort to the Allies and cor
responding blow to the Central Powers. Proof
Of our intention to provide these men is the
very best assistance that we can now give.
found. especially in France, very strong
feeling that the moral effect of American
troops, however few At first in number, fight
ing in France under the American flag would
be enormous. The idea of an American legion
and, they added, Theodore Roosevelt march
ing down the Champs Elysees on their way
to the trenches created tremendous enthu-
saSm in France | hope that American troops
will be sent to France. hope that they will
be sent, even though but handful, in the
very near future. As an earnest of what we
propose to do, their coming will have a far
reaching effect ncommensurate with their
numbers. ! hope above all that We shall adopt
the plan of cOnscriptOn, which will show, As
nothing else can show, our undying resolve
TO fight this fight to the bitter end, and will
hearten up the Allies, who are fighting ouI
fight, as nothing else can hearten them up
We have met the financial situation right glo-
riously. Let us show that we are ready to
give up not alone our treasure, but our life
Hood, for the great cause in which we are
! finally engaged.