New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-20
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

| To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Why have not Congress and th'
President during these last two weeks takei
some decided step TO reverse the mistakei
policy Of the last three years with regard u
unpreparedness? Why has there not peer
passed, or at least proposed, measure pro
viding for compulsory military service! VI
falling that. why has there not been issuet
a call for volunteers? II the country were
really in earnest, were really alarmed as II
ought to be, IL would see in flash from
the Atlantic to the Pacific that il the pres
ent policy be right the former policy has
been entirely wrong. If it be right that VIC
should now be on the verge Of war with Ger
many, it cannot also be right that for the
last three years we should have seen this
very war coming and should have made no
real preparations to meet it.
The handwriting has been there on the
wall in letters of flame. Month after
month, even year after year, We have seen
it there, have gazed upon it with curiosity, as
upon some new sort of fireworks, have
gazed upon it idly and gone our way. Or, if
we have taken any action it has been in the
form of savage and contemptuous attack
upon those among US who have tried to lead
us in the right direction. Yes, 1t has been
a terrible mistake, but If We were now really
in earnest it would not take us long to REQ
tify it. We should use no very gentle
method either. The country would burst
into fury of Indignation at the defenceless
position in which il now finds itself, existing
political leadership would be shattered to
atoms In the twinkling of an eye the policy
of undergraduates would be reversed, vol
unteers would be training in a thousand
circling camps, and the country would with
heart and soul and with all our magnificent
American efficiency prepare itself for the
worst.
There are two reasons why this is not
brought about:
First, the country is not in earnest, and
does not insist upon it. We do not really
think we are in danger. We pretend to think
so, but really do not We are relying, as al
ways, on the victory of the Entente Allies
and the protection of the English fleet. The
President has given US new thrill and we
are rather pleased with him. We are going
to be OF new Importance in the world, par
Elephants in the tremendous world war, and
all with the least possible danger to our
selves We are to fly our flags and parade
our militia, but We do not really expect to
fight, not to fight for our lives at least, nor
for the independence of our country. That
is why we were all so calm and uncritical
after the break with Germany had been an
nounced This state of mind was said TO
arise from the marvellous patriotism Of the
country, but probably it was nothing of the
sort. II was because we felt very much at
our ease. Men in great peril, in danger OF
losing life or property, are usually very criti-
cal indeed toward the person who is respon-
sible for bringing them to such pass. The
highest patriotism may be silent at such a
time. but it is not usually. Patriotism did
not prevent some fairly patriotic people
from crtcising Lincoln during the Civil
War, nor did it prevent New Englanders
from criticising jefferson during the War
of 1912.
The second reason why the country does
not rouse itself is that the politicians, who