New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-16

J speaking pity for poor, ravnged, war
worn Germany; the Germany Of MUIR
der and rape and unimaginable hor'
rors inflicted upon Belgium; the Ger
many which, as he himself points out
elsewhere, holds enemy lands as large
as e.. own empire, now pictured, how
ever, for Hearsts peace purposes. as an
object to move the tears Of the pitiful.
at is no pleasure for q strong and
we'll man to attack another that has
been bleeding and suffering for q long
time. There could be no glory for =
great nation such as ours In fighting
nation that has suffered as Germany
has suffered"
This was published in February, 1917
when a declaration Of war was only a
question Of time. When the declaration
came Hearst for few days was all
fireworks and flag display, and halle
lujah and glory, and bathos and cheap
heroics. All this was but the smoke
cloud in which he enveloped himself
for safety. Presently 1t dispersed
and from its obscurity energies Hearst
again faithful to the German propa-
ganda. This time, however, 1t is . Ger
many strangely altered from the
bleeding and suffering" object OF pity
in the contemplation OF which Hearst
sough. to melt US to tears. He now
essays to play upon the fears OF the
public. He is trucking to the supposed
cowardice of America, an extreme re-
cours. even for william Randolph
Hearst.
"Her (Germanys) armies were larger
in 1915 than in 1914, in 1915 than IN
1915. and they are to-day larger and
more formidable than they were at this
time a year ago"
The United States had been at war
with Germany nearly four months when
this was published Hence, its only
conceivable purpose was to frignten
Hearst's readers into advocating a dis
honorable peace.
ave think that if the war should
continue for ten years." pursues the
editorial. "the antagonists would face
each other upon terms Of practical
equality
Parading the
British Boge
It is even within the scope of the
Hearst propaganda of terrorism to i'm
putc to our allies a Willingness TO be-
tray this country into Germany's hands:
This nation may be left alone to face
the victorious Teutons within less than
year"
Not only this, but Japan, Hearst
shamelessly prophesies, once convinced
that Germany can win, will prove
traitor and join her.
Now comes the point to which all
these whimperings and skulkings lead.
In a letter dated July 81, 1917, and
written for publication, Hearst calls
for an immediate peace. rather than
continue the struggle against this ter
rible foe, by sending "a million Of our
splendid young Americans every year
of war which may last from seven to
ten years, to be offered up in bloody
sacrifice"
That is the logical contamination of
all Hearst's arguments ard appeals to
sympathy, fear and sclfshne.s: LETS
quit"
All this time Hearst was covering his
tracks by various devices. His front
page teemed with the panoply of war.
That sells papers. He organized re-
cruiting bureaus, he hired Raemaekers,
the bitterly powerful anti-Teuton car
toonist land then edited him). lie ad-
vocated the sending of $4,000 airships
to France in one paper, while he was
urging that not an American soldier be
moved from American soil in another.
All this was bluff. csmoufage. 1t
helped circulation and enabled Hearst
when attacked to point to the flag in
colors and the verses of "The Star