The Washington herald., 1917-02-23
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
"One People,"

'One People,"
New York world)
No other paragraph in Washington,s
Farewell Address is SO pertinent to the
crisis that confronts the United States as
this:
'If we remain one people, under an
emcient government, the period y not far
on when we may defy material injury
from external annoyance; when we may
take such an attitude rs will cause the
neutrality We may at any time resolve
upon to be scrupulously respected; when
oelligerent nations, under the impossi-
bility of making acquisitions upon US, will
not lightly hazard the giving us provo !
cation when we may choose peace or war.
as our interest, guided by our Justice,
may counsel.
The United States today is practically
at war with Germany because the Ger
pan government had reason to believe
that we had not remained lone people"
1t believed that under the influence of an
aggressive and INSCRIPTIONS propaganda
the American people were divided. and
that the controlling power rested with
those elements which were determined to
use the United States to further the MILL
tary policies of the German empire. 80
Whether or not we have actual war
with Germany. the lesson OF the last
thirty months is the most vital lesson
that the American people have had to
learn since the destruction OF slavery and
secession. This nation cannot exist hal.
American and half alien. II must be
'one people" and if we shirk longer the
task of making Il one people we are in
wiling the destruction OF the republic
Americans on the Sens.
New York Tribune)
The American flag has been forced of
the seas by German threatz Whether
any American likes the Thought or not
that Is the unvsrnished truth. The four
ships OF the American line now in port
have abandoned their sailings. Their car
goes arc being discharged. Their crews
have been paid on. Americans under the
necessity or sailing TO the belligerent
countries have been informed that they
cannot sail under the American flag.
They are booking passage in the ships of
other neutrals or of belligercnts. - .I
II Is nineteen days since President Will
son spoke his brave words in the Sem
ate. In those nineteen day. tho Ger
man threat has prevailed. The blockade,
so far as It affects the American flag, is
complete. In all patience and with full
appreciation of the problems bescttInC the
government the Tribune cannot but ask
what Is being done to end this invasion
Of the undoubted rights OF our peo-
Pile" The Tribune takes II for granted
that those rights will be asserted and
their assertion protected. The Tribune
assumes that the United States means
what IT saws. How and when therefore
does our government in Washington pro-
pose to restore our fag to the free seas
OF the world?
Two Kinds of Peace.
New York Tribune)
We, 1900 citizens assembled in the
Coliseum urge that American citi-
zens and American vessels be warned
against entering the war zone.
So resolves a Chicago meeting engI-
neered by a member of the Woman's
Peace Party. addressed by two Social
lists, one paCihst the most illustrious
statesman OF Comanche. Tex. and a set
tcment worker. The resolutions also
urge referendum to ascertain the will
Of the people before a state OF war is
allowed TO develop between this people
and any other government"
Something like state OF war seems
to have developed in the meeting The
speakers were continually INTERRUPTED
The l2ooo citizens counted in the resoIu-
uons were by no means of one mind.
Whatever be the respective shares Of
honest delusiOns. of Socialist or alien
propaganda of pacihsm run mad and or
artincial promotion in such assemblages.
they are not making for peace any more
than is the flood OF identical telegrams
sent to Washington. The great body of
citizens is keeping quiet. content to trust
the President, knowing that no man is a
better friend OF righteous peace. 1t is
no time for bluster. With deep and
grave patriotism. sober thinking men
and women wait and hope They are pa
tent. as the President Is patient. They
are resolved, as he Ia resolved But how
long Will they be patient with the naked
and hideous counsel to surrender Ameri-
can rights and American honor?
The American people are not towards.
These continual agitations for avoiding
war by yielding right do not contribute
TO peace. The mass Of American citi-
zens want no towards peace That is
the peace the pacifsts and their hetero-
geneous allies are clamoring for.