The Washington herald., 1917-04-16
How the Editors Are Viewing
America and the World War

Lloyd Georges Welcome to America
philadelphia Public LedgerI
Not the least remarkable feature Of
Mr.. Lloyd Georges fine speech before
the American Business Mems Club in
London is its comprehension Of the mo-
! tive which has impelled the American
people, after months OF hesitation, to
plunge into the fight against Teutonism.
Many OF Mr. Georges countrymen have
criticised our aloofness. many Ameri-
cans too have endured 1t impatiently,
feeling that Germany had revealed suf-
hciently her purposes when she invaded
Belgium. Yet the fact that the war was
far from our shores, the suspicion that
IN NJ. Georges telling phrase, the
kings were at their old tricks" intensi-
fed our reluctance to act Nor had we
suffered as Europe had suffered from the
perpetual menace Of a nation that was
an army The Hindenburg line" was
not drawn across our territory. The
allies said that they were asserting the
independence OF Europe; but though we
might believe them we could not see how
our independence was at stake. That
conviction Germany has at last drilled
into US by her policy OF indiscriminate
outrage and murder There was then
no choice but to stand by the principles
which are the very basis of our free
dom. IT rejoice as a democrat" Mr..
George says. that the advent of the
United States into this war gives the
final stamp to the character of the con-
fict as struggle against military
autocracy throughout the world.
But the value Of Mr.. Georges speech
does not lie wholly in its appeal to the
high purpose which now animates Amer
lea and her new allies. There was much
sound practical advice in It. We shall
have our part in the settlement of terms
Of peace, In the establishment OF So
cial and political order which shall make
the repetition of such conflict impossi-
Bile. But first We must do our part In
the fighting, and do It without the mis-
takes which our unprepared predeces-
sors in action made. Mr.. George would
have US study those mistakes and
profit by the example. Cooperation with
them is essential, and It is gratifying 10
know that 1t has already begun. MT
George believes. and rightly. that our
most essential work is the provision OF
supplies and the ships to carry them.
Submarine warfare is Germany's last
weapon. and she is using it With terrific
energy. Can we wrest IT from her
hands? That is the question OF all
others. and we should bend all our
energies to answering 1t.
Bryan Was Right.
(Chicago Tibune.)
We have scoffed at the worthy presl-
dent of the Million Armed Springers' We
were wrong. Bryan had something on US
He knew and We didn't
At the threat of war they are spring
ing to arms. You can find them In nns
before the marriage license windows.
But Mr.. Bryan held out on us. He did
not say whose arms
The Lesson for the Day.
Now York Tines
Fifty-two years ago this morning Aor"
ham Lincoln died, at the successful con-
cIusion of an enormous war; ana MS
countrymen, embarking on one still vast
er. will look back inevitably at each OF
its stages to see what they can gain from
what he did and said in the earlier one.
They will gain nothing unless, as caCh
new stage is reached. they take from
him the lesson applicable to that stage
rather than to others. His patience. his
long suffering, have been more than mi-
tated. His forgiveness. his large am
nesty. will find their time of imitation.
The lesson for the day is his common
sense, his relenting resolution. The gen
tie Lincoln has been so much lauded
that the manly and determined Lincoln Is
in danger of being forgotten. The war is
his monument; he was the war. and
Grant and Farragut were his two hands.
The generals who exhausted his patience
were those who made war mildly. He
asked of them action and never asked
the cost When they fought gently he
dismissed them and continued his search
for one who would make war thorough
ly. He even contemplated dismissing
Meade in the midst of his Gettysburg
glory, because Meade had only won the
battle of Gettysburg and had not ami
hilated Lee. When Grant took up the