New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-06
DOWN TO THE DREGSo
Views of Reader Who Feels That 4.
Time Has Come to Speak
To the Editor of The Tribune.

o lne EullOT OF Inc tribune.
Sir: l have just read with immen..
profound satisfaction your great es,o-.,
"Down TO the Dregs," in The Tribune =,
day. | regard il as an utterance inspi,os
though the Divine Dramatourgos had 49,,
missioned you. as he did the prophet Of -,
"Son of man. go and speak these word, 4,
the ears OF the President II may he o..
he will hear thee and repent and turn.
In one way am entirely Of your op,;..
that il is useless now TO criticise those Nh.
in control of our government, have failes :
give us that moral leadership which
sought and which We should have follor.,
But what, Mr.. Editor, il they are fsilin, l..
lead US now? Think OF the countrys n,,,.
ing need. Consider the greater need Wa,
will soon be upon US in the near future. A.
the past is by no means dead so long As ,tL
remembered. All the bufets our country l..
received these last three years; the outrs,,
upon a common humanity; the eontun,,
poured upon democracy; the vast des,rues,.
of the public and private property Of a.
people; our citizens murdered at sea and q.
our own sol-for 10 these foes OF civilirat,.
nothing has been sacred, nothing held \.
violate; our nations peace plotted agsj,v
by false friends in Mexico and Japan; =.
freedom Of the seas denied Us; the persosl
liberties of our people so circumscribed ts,.
we may neither come nor 90 save in var,
marked out by an nimical foreign despot Az
even then TO go at the imminent peril TO N,
and limb from the bloodthirsty pirates A.;
marauders, creatures too base and coward,
TO strike save in the dark. and then ONLY .,
men and women unarmed. and helpless. ina.
cent babies. Wha, is wanted is a Presia,r,
We seem TO have none, save one who zoe,
not preside, leader who does not lead.
captain who cannot or who will not tell u
what to do. Instead Of man 70 look up a.
listen and observe, here is the Presder
listening to US, hearkening out for the vish.,
of the people, waiting for them 10 tell biz
what TO do; attempting to weather a grts,
crisis by the will Of the people, instead d,
guiding and governing himself by the even
lasting laws Of Righteousness and love, jus.
tice and humanity.
Surely the time is come for speaking oss
Suppose that the contention between osr
government and Germany were no more sen.
Gus or important than a game Of football
between two conteHding colleges. Eye
then the Presidents conduct would be not
only inexplcable and objectionable, but pre-.
posterously absurd. Can you imagine foot.
ball captain worth his salt his team at grips
with their opponents. the issue still trcr.
bling in the balance, taking counsel Of u,
crowd of spectators. People, what must n,
teams next move be? What must we DO e
get this ball TO the goal and win the gamer
Were the voice of the people indeed n,
voice of God. it might even yet be well Wit
US. But we have no such inialible wisdo-
no such august authority as that And eve
while the football leader paused the gan,
might be lost or az least not won.
There is only one way out Of this terribt
coil Leaders must lead, the people vi
follow. Captains must command and "
obey, and Presidents must preside or eIy
resign, or-be impeached
JOHN A. BEVTNGT0N
New York. March 2, 1917.