The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-10
AMERICA AND THE ALLIES
(Brithish Weekly February 81

British navy, Is necessary to her EXIST
ence. In the great ages OF her ms,
tory, the smoking out nf pirates
nests was the congenial business OF
her sailors There Is tradition Una.
when Raleigh returned. broken ana
defeated, from his ill-starred Orinoce
VOYAGE, the Spanish ambassa Tor ;usn-
ed into the presence of King James
crying. 'Piratas. piratas, oira'as'
Pro-German influences In Spain may
prevent an open breach with the
pirate emperor, but the best elements
in the population have declared their
sympathy with the allies. Full al
lowance Is made in this county for
the difficulties of Holland and the
Scandinavian powers They lie with
in reach of the tigers claws. Unless
Germany gives way. We may, how
ever. see league of neutrals i1der
American hegemony. Even II nc shot
Is fired the moral effect of Mr.. Will
sons action must help to shorten the
war
But what II America comes in?
Her adhesion to the allied cause.
which was almost universally expect
ed by American newspapers on Mon
day. would be welcomed with joy by
the entente powers. Preparations for
! war are being rapidly pushed for
ward. We knew, and Germany
knows, that America could throw a
mighty sword into the scale. She Is
one of the ''intangtbies. aFatnst
which miiitarism fights In vain. One
of our greatest soldiers, In the early
days Of the war. rebuked n friend
who remarked lightly that the United
States might be regarded as negltgi-
! Bile. Make no mistake on that
point" he said. America is far
stronger. even from a military and
naval point of view, than most peo-
pie suppose. Her Intervention would
he the surest means OF shortening the
war"
: In London on Saturday q cheer
ing crowd visited the American en-
hassy, The Star-spangled Banner"
and John Browns Body were sung
outside Mr. Pages windows IN Mon
treal there were scenes OF rejoicing
Such demonstrations would be rerent-
ed on "A tremendous scale SHOULD MIR.
Wilson's government decide to take
the final step. No event could bring
greater Joy to the English speaking
world, and that for several reasons.
/. America is our natural ally. 1t
I, has hurt US to be acting apart. The
( two people cherish the same ideals.
! Staunch friends OF eur cause are
found in thousands. not only In the
/ East. but, as our correspondence
proves. In all parts of the Middle and
Western states. Many have been
sorely grieved by the presidents at
tituie OF caution and by his refusal
to protect against the violation and
martyrdom of Belgium. Anne, leans
know well that we entered this war
for unselfish reasons. Blood and
treasure have been poured forth la
vishly in defense OF all that they and
we hold dear. Many of our friends
in the. states wouiJ say. as an early
puritan at home wrote to the May
flower emigrants in the midst of their
sufferings. Let II not be grievous
unto you that you have been instru-
mental to break the ice for others
The honour shall be yours to the
worlds end.
I Lord Northcliffe. In a recent article.
has described the work of gallant
young American volunteers. who are
fighting side by side with the Cana
dams and the French. From their
trenches amid the snow ana mud of
February a cheer must have arisen
for the president.
ly strengthen the ties that bind us
to our kinsfolk beyond the sea. Since
this conflict began We have all been
studying the records eft he-great
Civil War, and there 10 no name more
honoured amongst us than that of
Lincoln. His oracular sayings nave
been quoted on every platform and
In every newspaper. Many stu Tents
have gone back also to the horoic pe-
ginnings of American story. I'VE are
knit together" wrote John Robinson
OF the early settlers. I'm a most sacred
covenant OF the Lord, OF the ..ola-
! ton whereof we make great con-
science, and by virtue thereof we rold
ourselves strictly to all care OF each
others good. and OF the whole. IT
is not with US as with men whom
small things can discourage"
The granite boulder on which the
Pilgrims stepped Is an obtectof ven
Grafton to us AZ we'll as to them. DIR.
Gardeners words on the first A,neri.
can settlers have their lesson for this
hour. 1T was not enough" he saws.
that men should hold theories about
liberty. What was needed va. that
there should be found those Who
were ready to dare anything a,.d to
whom they called their Lord: men
who could confront kings. as being
themselves the servants OF the kinrs
OF kings. When such had Zone their
work. then would come the .o.t Of
the calm philosopher and statesna I. ),
8. Americas entrance on the war
would make certain the victorious
end.
II is waste Of breath to speculate
on the motive for Germany's threat
to the world. Some call Il the last
desperate throw OF the xan bier:
others. like Mr.. Lovat Fraser, teiieyc
that Germany nrmly expects to starve
our islands into submission German
papers with q sinister emphasis are
throwing the responsibility for the
T new friEhtfumess on their sovern-
ment alone. Friedrich Naumann
warned his countrymen a year ago
that America would prove a ian
gerous foe. She had already 4 strong
navy, and could IN six months rain
formidable army. Above all, he
said "AmARioa can aunnorf n.nn.% . !.