davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH
the His Action Called Co. ~
Reader Demand Fol
sCmhad With Of Europe

through reverses or success. through rus.
fering or the exultation that sccompaui,,
triumph, been completely reversed. Wh.t
men did two years ago they would do again
to- morrow. Practical considerations mia,
make for a pause, but that would only In.
tensfy the ultimate fury.
II the efforts OF other men az well mean.
ing and as able as President Wilson coud
not avail in times OF peace TO form such a
community OF nations as he sugg.sts IN
eliminate war, how is such an accomplish
ment TO be brought about In time Of str,.
The logical faculties do not have prec,d.ne,
over men when the blood boils The war.
ring nations are all sincere, and each feel.
that the time is 10 them momentous, with
victory but little way OF. To attempt 10
snatch it away by premature offers Of peace
is but TO add 70 the storm. It's stteuu,
would be but TO draw into the maeistrom Of
the passions Of nations another hatred.
Robert Browning stated chat the old
world and its ways had q certain worth"
Thomas Carlyle summed up: "But whence
o Heaven, whittier? Sense knows not. faith
knows not, only that it is through mystery
to mystery, from God and 10 Cod
To array ones self against the spiritual
and material forces Of the world is not the
work Of any man.
Atlas is of Mythology.
CHARLES CLIFFORD TINCKLER.
Maplewood, ~ j., Jan. %, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Cesar hath spoken" What mis-
chief his words will brew the future alone
can tell.
The first reading Of President Wilson's
amazing utterance before the United States
Senate yesterday filled me with burning
indignation that he should have had the
tactlessness and effrontery to voice and at
tempt to commit his country to such sweep
ing radical programme OF universal recon-
struction My next feeling was that Of be-
dazzlement at the grandeur Of the plan he
outlined for the future Of this old world Of
ours. And then came the doubt as TO his
sincerity: and the doubt is growing with
every minute Of sober reflection.
I speak for myself. do not pretend to re-
fleet the sentiment Of any other person, when
say:
That. in my humble judgment, President
Wilson yesterday committed the most colos-
sal bunder it has ever fallen to human
being to commit. II is inconceivable that any
man, unless he were completely carried away
by his own conceit and ego, could even think
Of proposing TO the belligerent nations OF
Europe n more offensive, inopportune solu-
ton Of the titanic struggle in which they are
engaged His past attitude in the premises
serves but to make the proposition only the
more to be regretted.
He has, during the weary, bloody days
since August, 1914, preached the doctrine Of
absolute aloofness from the quarrel of Eu-
rope, with which, he has maintained with as
much steadfastness as he ever manifests we
have nothing whatever to do. He has suf-
fered the invasion and dissertation OF Bel
GUM without registering protest; he has
permitted the Lusitania massacre to pass un-
rebuked and unatoned for; he has done alb
soutely nothing with respect to our foreign
relations, complicated as they have been and
are by the Great War, of which we need in
the least feel proud. And then he completed,
reverses himself-as usual-and proceeds TO
dictate the terms upon which America will
consent to a peace in Europe! oh, the
shameful irony Of it! Could anything more
scientifically inconsistent, illogical and down
right reprehensible possibly be imagined?
God help us during the next four years, if
this sort of thing is to keep up!
HOMER DUNNE.
Yonkers, N. Y, Jan. 90, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
The President of Humanity
Dr. of The Tribune.

10 the Editor OF Inc tribune.
Sir: Citizen Fixit Wilson, President OF
Humanity. and erstwhile Chief Magistrate Of
these United States, essays TO speak for "ali
Americans" Well, am one American, with
a line Of American ancestors happily up
rooted from the soil of the present-day-
shrieking Deutsch, for whom President Wood
row Wilson does not speak.
In his last two utterances, the peace pro-
nuncamento and his present peace without
victory" absurdity, he speaks for himself,
not for me and mine. l voted for him twice.
Now for my part repudiste him as non
representative, whose self-consuming ambi-
ton to win the accumulated. Nobel Peace
Prize has made him lose almost all sense of
proportion, of realities, of practical facts,
and of the eternalty of Interchangeable human
nature. LEONARD X. HIRSHBERG.
Baltimore, Nd, Jan. 90, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
Dewey at Manila

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In The Tribune Of January Il, in
your sketch Of the career of Admiral Dewey,
occurs the following paragraph:
German officers visited the Spanish commander
a. Manila. German chips Of war shifted their an.
chorsges without consulting the blockading ships
German launches wandered about the bay at will
every night. while German searchghts darted
here and there Friction between Won Dederiehs
and Dewey became hotter and hotter. until finally
he American commodore sent a blunt question 10
the German commander. asking him whether he
wnhed 20 be considered a belligerent by the
United STATES. The German feet gave further
offence.
Perhaps he did send this blunt question
but, according TO the report at the time, it
did not constitute the whole, and perhaps
not the most effective part, Of his message
II included the no less blunt" announce
ment: III Germany wants war, she can have
10 in five minutes" e. II. RIGGS.
Bristol Conn, Jan 20, lei7.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
Our Record for Humanity at Home

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The Presidents latest effort 70 fuIsl
Herr Mlnsterberg's prediction is not sur.
prising, or at least ought not TO be for those
who have noted his course in other matters.
II is pitiful that his new attempt 70 place
himself in the limelght must add TO the dis
like or contempt all European nations now
have for the United States. Or has not the
foreign policy, or rather want of policy, Of
our country been such that any other result
was impossible? Mr.. Wilson's vaeillation
and weakness had already lost us their re.
spect, but his new effusion Is 80 inopportune
and impractical that Il makes orr whole ma
ton ridiculous.
Just consider. Mr.. Wilson offers on our
behalf to take part in league TO regulate
the whole world. Evidently it did not enter
his mind that foreigners will judge the value
of the offer by what they have seen him 90
on this side of the Atlantic. Here in MeI-
leo, he did not protect the Europeans nor his
own people nor his soldiers from murder.
assault and robbery. Twice he cut his eagles
claws and sent them south to make things
right, which with cut claws was impossible,
but as the brave Mexicsns killed some OF
them he stopped the regulation and called
them home again. You and | may not read
history this way, but be sure that in Europe
and Mexico Uncle Sam is now ranked as
coward
Mr.. Wilson ought to be well aware that
for many generations to come real world
league to enforce peace is utterly impossi-
BILE, as the world cannot be converted even
for the best purpose in any short time. Does
ne expect justice in a court where Roman
offs, Hohenzollerns and Enver Pashas hold
the balance? Mr.. Wilson has been a profes
sor of history and knows very we'll that, how.
ever virtuous individuals may be, nations
have ever been and are now utterly immoral.
counting il no sin 10 commit wholesale muir
der robbery or any other DEVILS work, II Il
only enlsrges the frontier. As an example,
take the present Hohenzollern war, which, If
won, will be called glorious by all Germans
and a majority of others. Probably the
Kaiser and his people are not more cruel
than others, but history as they have learned
to read it compelled them TO commit their
crimes, which they believe are for the gory
of their bloodsoaked God and fstherlsnd. As
long as such spirit is fostered in the young
of any land il is useless to talk Of world
peace and unfortunate will be the country
misled to believe that any scrap OF paper or
any number of oaths will prevent wars OF
conquest in this or any near generation.
Popular government may, and doubtless
does, act nationally with more justice and
permits morality to dictate its dealings with
other governments. The recent history OF
the actions of the United States in the case
of Mexico contradicts that belief n. s.
Brooklyn, Jan. %, 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
Anti-Germanism in West and South
the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: II is indeed wonderful what people
who are bent on discovering things can dis
cover in this great country of ours. A few
days after the election some one discovered
that the many thousands Of votes for Wilson
in the Western States were cast because
"He kept us out Of war" have talked with
a number OF Western people who voted for
Wilson, and do not recall that any one as
signed that reason for his vote Various
other reasons we're given. In most cases il
was either because the voter was Democrat
or because he was not pleased with the ap-
parent attitude of the managers of the Re
publican campaign or the utterances of the
candidate.
Some of your correspondents (princ pally
those who do not live in the West) have dis
covered that the West is unpatriotic, is
strongly opposed to preparedness. and is for
peace at any price" / have spent more
than half my life in the West and know
Western people, if anything, better than
those of the East | believe none of these
discoveries can be verified by one who will
study the Western people without prejudice
and widely enough to understand them.
Western people are not, as rule, giving as
much thought TO the European war and its
possible complications in our own country
as are those near the Atlantic Coast To
many il seems very far away, but their opin-
ions about it are much the same as prevail
ing opinions in the East.
The Westerner is slower 70 wake up to the
need for preparedness, but none the less for
it. when his interest is sufficiently aroused
He is quite patriotic, but takes his patriot
ism as matter Of course, and only talks
loudly about il when somewhat wrought up.
In your issue of January 20 a correspond
ent who has been visiting in the Southern
States tells how she discovered that "the
pro-German spirit seems to enthrsll the en-
tire South" There are pro-Germans scat
tered through the South, Of course, but |
find them no more in evidence here than in
New York, Philadelphia or Boston. The gem
orally prevailing attitude, so far as | have
been able to observe. in both the South and
the West, is distinctly anti-German and. in
somewhat milder degree, pro-Ally. There
are some towns here and there where one
might receive very different impression.
EDW. CORMAN.
Knoxville, Tenn Jan o. 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
The Freedom Of the Seas
itor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of Tho Tribune.
Sir: Again, unfortunately, The Tribune is
out Of tune. The President demands the
freedom Of the seas For the United States
he demands it now. To my mind, it means
that if a cry should come TO US across the
seas that the men and women Of Germany
are starving on account Of the illegal acts oil
Great Britain, the United States will demand
the right to feed them, and will maintain
that right, at all hazards, just as she did,
and is doing, in Belgium. IL is scarcely to
be expected that we shall hear that cry.
At all events, the people Of the United
States will know how to perform their
humanitarian duty IL We do hear it. The
President has driven the money changers
from the temple and awakened the true
Christian spirit in the hearts of our coun-
trymen. WILLIAMS c. FOX.
New York, Jan. "a, 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25

mon in practically all circumstances Tor
tho use of mankind" is contract of the
largest and boldest sort. 1t is German
concept. For Germany, realizing that she
could only with tho greatest difficulty ac-
quire even q partial sea control, has natu-
rally aimed at making all sea control
worthless from a military point of view.
She woulu like to see navies abolished and
a ban put upon all activities which might
tend to interfere with the development of
her merchant marine She is at one with
the President in her dream of an abso-
lutely neutralized ocean.
We are inclined to read dream Of that
sort into the far-hung phraseology Of the
Presidents speech, in spite Of its obvious
antiquities and avoidances. The sentence
which "The Post" quotes in order to acquit
him of aiming at anything really con-
structive or revolutionary we are inclined
to dismiss as only an unhappy after
thought.
We are willing to let the big idea swal-
low up its timer contradiction. We think,
too. that "The Post" would rather agree
with US that the President meant some
thing grandiose, though indefinite, than
insist on its painful contention that
he was only laundering in the index.
For if he was merely indorsing the an
cient American demand for immunity Of
private property, not cOntrObdnd, at sea,
he was talking heroics, running away from
the vital and practical reforms which Mr..
Lansing has written into the new sea code
for the protection of neutrals.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
An Arch-Hypnohst

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Since the Presidents amazing peace
proposals Of yesterday to the European ma
tions, in which he denies the right of victory
to either side, it appears to me that he is
trying to distract American public opinion
from the real points Of issue between our
selves and the Central Powers. 1t is well
therefore, 70 arouse the nation out of its
somnolent condition in which this arch -hyp-
notist has put it, if, indeed, it is still not
too late, by few pertinent questions, that
we may not altogether forget that our self
respect is at stake. These questions were
put to me this morning and feel that they
are entitled TO consideration and space in
your columns. ALEXANDER SEDGWICK.
Boston, Mass Jan. g. 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
Difficulties of Forced Feeding

The Commissioner of Correction APP
pears TO be quite unconcerned about the
case of a prisoner at Blackwell's Island
who has declared her intention TO refuse
all food during the thirty days of her i'm
prisonment. He argues that "even if she
lis in earnest about fasting" a few days
abstention will do her no harm, and, for
the rest, "if her condition becomes such
that medical attention is required, what
ever the consulting physicians advise will
be DONE"
Forced feeding is a possibility limited
at here, and it appears upon the whole the
most obvious solution of a difficult prob
lem. 1t is what the prisoner herself evil
IDENTIFY expects, and in Boosting that ut
cannot be done successfully" she intimates
plainly that she is determined to offer all
the resistance in her power. If she carries
out her threat with as much resolution as
was shown by many women in England in
the days Of Suffragette, activity she may
prove to be very troublesome prisoner.
Not that there is any reason to believe
that forced feeding for few weeks offers
insurmountable difficulties. The prisoner
is indeed reported to have said that her
experience as a nurse has taught her the
Iimpossibility of feeding an unwilling pa
tent, but il she thinks so her experience
must be limited. Insane patients have
often been fed for months, and sometimes
even for years, in spite of constant resist
ance An experienced physician, with
sufficient practice in the use of the nasal
tube, would therefore have little difficulty
in forcing her to take sufficient nourish-
ment during the period of her sentence.
1t is true that there was a great cutlery
| in England at the frightful sufferings of
Mrs. Pankhurst and her followers, and it
is certain that some of them did succeed
in injuring their health when in prison.
But their sufferings were unquestionably
Exaggerated, for an appeal to popular pity
was at that time an important part of the
| Pankhurstian propaganda. The women
even found some sympathetic medical men
willing TO testify that forced feeding was
a monstrous form of torture, but they
could not induce expert practitioners Of
the art to agree with them. Nevertheless
in the long run they did secure a sort Of
concession from their tormenters in the
form Of an act Of Parliament, commonly
known as the cat and mouse act, by which
the government was enabled to release a
hunger striker and resrrest her as soon as
her health and strength were restored.
The problem in England was much
greater than any we have to face at pres
ent. There were scores Of women engaged
in militant activities and at times there
were many in a single prison, all of whom
refused to touch food of any kind. Minis
ters we're constantly worried by the
friends of the suffrsgettes in Parliament
and forced TO give detailed reports on the
state of their health and to submit to all
kinds Of vexatous questioning. 1t was this
perpetual badgering that brought about
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
An Address to the Citizenry

Observe this sailors pleasant smile.
He salored for a little while,
But now he's off the salty sea
To doctor and play golf with me.
He does not cost the country dear
Two thousand dollars in a year.
That is not very much, methinks,
For one so loveh on the links.
II you could hear him call out Fore"
You'd think him worth a good deal more.
For one of his trsnscendent stuff.
Frankly, that is not half enough.
So I. 10 set this matter straight,
viii boost the doctor UP 10 eight
I'll make him admiral, and his pay
Four times the size of IL to-day
His labors are not quite marine.
He cruises on the putting green.
His swelling bunkers do not feed
The inwards of a naval steed.
No Destiny's compelling force
Has swept him on golfng course.
Also. observant of my ills,
He sometimes doses me with pills.
Why. having sailed the ocean blue,
And learned TO be a doctor, too,
Should such q one not have the call
To come and be an admiral?
My friends. see with me, IL you can.
The lofty worth of this young man,
This comrade mine. whose larger pay
I frankly ask you to dcfrsy.
a.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
AN ARTISTS BATTALION
Actors, Painters, Seulptors, Architects Have
Chance to Obtain Military Training

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir Our organic law makes military ser
vice obligatory for each male citizen be-
tween the ages Of eighteen and forty-hye
years.
II is foolish for him so TO live his life as
to have TO meet this obligation totally IN
prepared, through lack of training. More
over. he is a coward, and disloysl II he so
arranges as 10 force his fellow 10 perform
this duty for him.
Therefore, it is necessary 20 prescribe ioi
the citizen soldier a standard of eficleney
that is we'll within his mental and physics
limitations, and put before him the mean
whereby he may attain that efficiency, so tus'
he may inspire an honest confidence IN MS
ability 20 play his part when the curtain
rises on tragedy such as IS now being
played in Belgium.
There is chance for all American actor
between the ages Of eighteen and forty-hv
years 10 prove that they are willing TO 40
something more than mere flag waving ana
singing Yankee Doodle songs for the defence
and preservation Of these United States.
With The earnest and enthusiastic supper
Of Major General Leonard Wood, ReginaN
Barlow is endeayoring to organize what =
to be known as the Artists Battalion. InH
battalion will be organized on the Platts'
burg system and with distinct object T"
view. viz: to train actors, painters, sculptor
architects and other allied artists TO become
efficient reserve officers.
The country needs these men Of brains
whose civil and mental training has bee"
such that they would be Of nestimable vsius
10 the country.
Major General Wood IL Of the opinion thH,
these are the men that the country must 10"
back upon in the event Of hostile INVASION
with an adequate military training thsl
would be immensely valuable as officers u
the various departments Of our military
ganzation; without that training they w0ui'
be useless.
All members OF the above mentioned arr,
ara earnestly invited to become identlh,o
with the Artists Battalion and send th''i
names and addresses in TO Mr.. Barlow, az 70
Gramercy Park, Manhattan.
REGINALD BARLOW,
New York, Jan. -, 1917,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25

lea IL like a very wealthy, fat and habby
gentleman who lives on luxuries and takes
no exercise, I hold IL 10 be the sacred duty
Of tho pacihsts Of the aforesaid United
States Of America 20 organize a league to
enforce peace, kindly allowing the heavily
armed nations Of the world to bear the bur
dens and expense Of exercising the power
while we, from humanitarian motives and IN
conformity with our high ideals Of wealth.
make the laws for the league and enjoy at
minimum of cost the protection OF the
league without tho trouble Of exercising our
muscles in drilling or our brains in the
study Of defence" CLARENCE LUCAS'
New York Jan. %, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
In the Eyes of the World
itor of The Tribune

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Two of Mr.. Wilson's points in his lat
est indscretion are "Peace without victory"
and Freedom of the seas" Peace without
victory would see these United States the
colonies Of Great Britain, the Civil War
fought for nothing, etc. The President is in
deed dreamer, and q very unpatriotc one.
Freedom Of the seas" is a phrase of Ger
man coinage, I think, vintage about 1914,
and is quite meaningless.
II is enough to make one ashamed of being
an American TO have the Chief Executive
make himself ridiculous in the eyes of the
world. JULES r. GIMBERNAT
New Yorh, Jan. "a, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25

the cat and mouse system, which in turn
was attacked as cruel and inhuman ana
might likewise have been abolished in
favor of some other system had not the
war broken out and put sudden end TO
the possibility Of any further appeals TO
the tender heart Of the public.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
Anything to Show Power
ditor of Tho Tribune.

To the Editor of Tho Tribune.
Sir: Mrs. Eunice Dana Brannsn, of the
Congressional Union. threatens the "dis-
pleasure" Of the voting suffragists in 1918
"if action Is not taken before that time" by
President Wilson on the proposed Federal
suffrage amendment And yet the only re-
suit Of their di,pleasure in 1915 was the
overwhelming victory OF the man they op-
posed.
But one can never tell the reactions OF
the suffrsgist mind. Maybe they intended
TO prove that women's votes thrown against
candidate could elect him. Anything to
show power.
People who will ask a President 20 canon
se a woman who died fighting against him
can believe anything.
ELEANORE GARDEN
New York Jan. -, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
Millennial
( The Tribune.

TO the EDITOR OF Inc Irlbune.
Sir: To confirm the message of President
Wilson delivered before the Senate yester-
day would be q confession of ignorance re-
garding the forces that animate men. The
message is mllennial in tone and purport,
but does not take into account the primal
instincts of the race. II is hardly suppose
bic that since the summer of 1914 the
instincts of men collectively have, either
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
First in Peace

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: To "the man with the pen at present
at the White House: "First in peace, never
in war Cunless he's kicked in!), and NOT
in the hearts OF his countrymen."
A. K. x.
New Brunswick, N. j., Jan. -, 1917.