New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-06
The Supreme Duty

will OF the majority or the people OF IIe
United States. These politicians cared
more about retaining votes in their own
districts than about protecting the lives
and the liberties Of their fellow country
men elsewhere. They were more con-
cerned about the votes of German-Amer-
leans in their own states than about the
lives OF Americans elsewhere.
This course of a few selfish and IN
patriotic Senators has supplied the Presi-
dent Of the United States with preteXt
for inactivity. He can with no small
show of justice place the responsibility
for the paralysis Of American shipping,
for the exile Of Americans abroad, upon
the Senate. He can make case for sub
mission now by pointing to the failure Of
the men who followed Stone and Cummins
in the Senate.
But such a plea in avoidance will not
last, and The Tribune trusts that Mr.. Will
son will not take refuge in it even for the
moment in which it may offer safe cover.
The mass of the people Of the United
States will not long bear patiently the
submission TO German terrorism. Even
if Mr.. Wilson finds it convenient to hest
tate now, he will presently be driven to do
without gain for his own reputation what
he can do now and by doing enlist national
support.
The Tribune does not profess to know
what are the powers Of the President in
the matter of the arming of American
ships. Such powers as he has it believes
he should use Immediately. If all real
power is lacking he should not delay an
hour or day in calling Congress, which
would not otherwise begin its labors for
some months, and asking Of it that
authority necessary 10 preserve American
liberty and free US from the thraldom of
German terrorism and piracy.
This nation will not permanently sub
nit to German dictation. 1t will not, I'm
der threat Of murder, abandon its citizens
or consent TO renounce the right to use
the seas. The views of the great major
ity of members Of the last House and Sen
ate disclose the position of the mass Of
their constituents. These views will make
themselves felt increasingly. If Mr.. VIII
son will not put himself at the head of
this majority, he will, in little time, be
driven to act under compulsion. His hour
TO lead is now here.
There is no question of political adj
vantage. The shame Of the Senate is di-
vided between the two parties, and if the
Democrats will henceforth find the assO-
citation with Stone difficult, Republicans
will not find it less difficult to continue to
act with Cummins and La Toilette. There
can be no partisan question raised when
members Of both parties have combined
TO betray their country, dishonor their
nation and abandon their fellow country
men to foreign murder for the sole pur-
pose Of preserving votes for themselves in
their own districts.
This nation Of ours is slowly but
surely coming TO a realization of things as
they are Shameful as have been recent
events, there is in them reason for hope
VI and not for dependency. 1t is not time
10 indulge merely in recrimination or in
despair. We have all of US to do what
we can to contribute to the totally Of
patriotic determination and to make audi
bic and visible that national will which is
the will 10 defend American rights and
liberties.
To-day there is no division and there
should be no division between Democrats
and Republicans over the question Of ma
tional defence. The sole question is be-
tween the men who love their country and
the men who love their offices, between
men who, like Cummins and Stone, have
sacrificed their nations honor 70 their per-
sonal political profit, and the majority in
both houses who have responded TO the
necessity Of the hour and placed national
safety above personal interest.
Mr.. Wilson should act, he should act at
cnce. and he should act in such fashion as
10 make the protection Of American ship
ping immediate lie should call an extra
session Of Congress if there is single
limitation in law 10 executive action to
arm our ships. The United States Senate
should now dvest itself Of that preroga-
tive which has become worse than a nui-
rance and not loss than national peril.
II should not give Mr. Wilson any pretcxt
for inaction and cover, If Mr.. Wilson IN
clines 10 find in the course Of the Senate
such a cover. II should perform It's part
Of the task Of national rehabilitation,
Of the restoration Of It's own body 70 good
repute. without an hour Of unneces-
sary delay
But there f. non laid upon all Of as
soroe norton Of the national duty. Our
government and our officials will not act
eaue under the stress Of popular demand
- &, The face IL upnhstakablc evidence