New-York tribune., 1917-07-11
Responsibility for Riots
By Eruing WinsloW

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Protest is the obvious and conyen-
tionally proper thing against demonstrations
that have been provoked by anti-war pro-
oessions. publications and meetings which
,yere within the letter OF the law or, II they
violated it, had not been officially restrained
or punished. But free speech. so hotly IN
sisted upon, may be claimed perhaps more
Justly than by those WAC. straining pubic
opinion and the law Itself, claim 1t to criti-
else the United States government in time OF
war-to criticise these unruly opponents
themselves of the policy of the country and
its loyal supporters. It is they who are
guiltily responsible for sggravations which,
rightly or wrongly, must inevitably inspire
demonstrations of disapproval
Trouble lies ahead. One who remembers
the draft riots" during th, "war between
the states" with its rapine, arson and muir
der, focused in "copperhead" New York, may
be allowed the warning of reminiscence, IN
view Of the dangerous elements obviously
seething now. and quite sure later to boil
over when the "selective" call comes TO mill
tary service There were &c be seen then IN
the metropolis burned Buildings, clamorInS
mobs, negroes hanging from the trees
Others were in hiding or had fled, while many
were secretly removed by their employers,
since the wrath of the prr,etariat fell upon
the assumed cause Of the snti-slavery war
the negro.
Treason to an Ally
Alas, to-day among those who have the ear
Of Irish Americans are many. including one
great preate Of the Roman Catholic Church
at least, who arc responsible, by their lndis-
Greet speech, for disaffection among its mem
bers, the manifestation Of which, In the en-
deavor to check sympathy for an ally, will
be an aggravating influence for vigorous re-
buttal Absurd and untimely as it is, agta-
ton for the immediate establishment OF an
Irish republic" is thus fostered. The dis
memberment of the British Empire In war
time is, Of course unthinkable; its suggestion
is kind of treason 70 our confederate. IL IS
purely pro-German move, stab in the
back to our common cause, monstrously abb
surd since the "liberation" of Ireland, pro-
crossing so wonderfully for half a century,
has of late proceeded by leaps and bounds.
Another great responsibility for the promo
ton of possible retaliation for their sedi-
tious attitude inheres with the German lam
guage press in the United States. In spite
Of technical submission to the purpose OF
the country, since the declaration OF war,
they continue virtual propaganda against
it. attacking continually, under the thin veil
Of slur and sneer, the purposes OF our allies,
which are now in substance of course our
own. 1t would make for peace and good
order in the land if these newspapers in the
enemy language, permeated with the enemy
spirit should be rigidly censored, perhaps
censored out of existence!
What tremendous responsibility for the ag-
gravation of the loyal impetus in the nation
lies at the door of organized socialism, which
has expelled its patriotic leaders, and through
it's platform and its newspapers denounces
the Justice of the war, the methods Of its
conduct, the Liberty bonds to defray its
expense, the Red Cross 10 relieve its suf-
ferers, the registration and the selective call
to the colorsl On registration day" one of
its representative newspapers appeared with
heavy black mourning rules" and, though
in some cases registration was counselled. !.
was only with the reservation that the oppo-
gltlon 10 the government Shou!d De reserved
for concentration at the actual moment of
the draft. If this dragging the tail of the
coat" before a challenged and indignant peo-
Pile is not a guilty provocation, what could
be one?
The Peoples Council
Responsibility for any and every kind Of
protest is assumed by the call to meet
ing Of the Peoples Council of America, to
which il is regrettable to see attached the
good name of David Starr Jordan, whose
silence since the declaration of war has been
noted with respect as an indication that he
had "laid down his arms for the cause of
peace as the paramount duty Of good citi
zenship to-day. The prospectus of the Peo-
pies Council contains these words:
Mothers of America: We need your help
and you need ours Your boy, brother sweet
heart oh. fed. husband, may soon be added
to the seven million dead lying in unmarked
graves on the bloody fields Of Europe 1t will
be too late to bring your loved ones back if
YOU neglect this call for immediate action.
Your money, a little here, little there must
be combined 70 spread the programme of the
Peoples Council of America for an early.
general and democratic peace. In Russia the
workers are leading the way. The Russian
a. = NJ