New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-29
The Record
Vacilation. Hesitation. Shrinking
and Temporizing
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: What must be the quiet opinion en-
,ertained by men the world over regarding
America in its new pose AS savior oil tne
world? After vacillating, hesitating, shrihA-
ing. tcmporizing before the greatest prop
lens ever set before men TO meet, We hhd
ourselves precipitated into war lust as we
ore"
The Administration, which crept PACK INTO
Office on the be-forgotten issues
900 proud to fight" and "he kept us out OF
war" now jumps the country into an irrepreS-
sible conflict nearly three years too late!
Daniels. the amazing country editor, Is the
grotesoue head OF our first line OF defence
and offence as il enters upon task that has
baf,ed the greatest navy in the world.
Baker. the pacifst lawyer, heads the army as
il engages in foreign campaign beset with
incalculabe difficulties. Both are good
Democrats, to be sure, which is of great I'M
nortance lust now. Mistakes OF ignorance
and incapscity in time OF war are nothing
as compared with party adherence and the
recognition Of it.
Congress-. after wrangling over trifes
while nations are dying, passes an army Dill
which may produce some soldiers year
hence.
The Case of Lord Roberts and Worse
Leonard Wood, the most accomplished ohi-
Ger in the army, is sent to Coventry, when
the country needs him most, to satisfy
nolitical grudge. because he pointed out the
necessity OF preparing for just what mas
Lanpened at time when the President was
nroclaiming that there was no such necessity
n might be the case of Lord Roberts all over
AGAIN. except that Roberts was honored' not
degraded. when his concern for his country
nroyed too we'll founded, and England iacea
the war that was never going to happen
still worse, When Theodore Roosevelt
the most inspiring character IN american
nublic life. offers himself with 25O,OOO pre-
nared men for immediate service at the front
N nrove 70 heroic and hard-beset france
that we are sincere, that eminent pIo-uer
man. whose feeble portrait recently adorned
tho front cover of Viereck's "Fatherland as
tho uost notable defender of democracy
that Gumshoe Bill Of Massachusetts, the
man whose boots he is unworthy 10 placK'
Stone opposes Roosevelt's going to hght the
Germans as he has consistently opposed any
ones fighting them. He knows tnat koose-
volts division could alone at the moment
iniure this country's enemies and hearten
this country's allies most effectively. But IL
must be prevented at all costs, lest IN leaoing
his country's cause to victory Roosevelt might
Gain the appreciation of his fellow citizens
and become a dangerous political competitor
in 1920 with Democratic aspirants.
BIighting Enthusiasm
The elimination of this is the Presidents
rejection of the patriotism OF RooseVeit ana
his fellow Americans in the war. NO at-
.ount ;s made TO conceal the motives. IL
would be politically dangerous II the
Allies greatest friend since the war began
were permitted to come to their assistance
when they called for help. II is not militar-
len, that must be crushed, but Theodore
Poasevelt As Germany is fighting to per-
netuate the Hohenzollern dynasty, so must
Americas war secure TO posterity the domi-
nance of the Democratic party. Inc re-
snors;biIitv of The successful conduct OF the
w. rests upon me-" There also rests the
resnonsibility for blghting the enthusiasms
Of those who would gladly serve Tor the
cause of liberty, which never in history mas
denied men such service.
Lastly arises the denial of a free press.
The President insists that the voice OF the
neople shall be stiaed by censored press
lest opinions might find expression differing
from his own in the policy and pursuit OF a
war in which the sons of the people are TO
be sacrificed as he directs. Happy kuitur-
land. Happy Russia of the Romanohs!
Where is the Siberia to which Americans
III o cont, EDWARD +. STEVENS.
Sboreham. n. Y, May 26, 1917.