Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-22
REDFTELD ROASTS !
]. PACIFIST MOVES
Gives Red-Hot Reply to Let
ter Urging Support of La
Toilette Measure
WON'T STAB U. S., HE SAYS
Reiterates Principles Involved in
Conflict, Denouncing Germany
as Desperate of Nations
WASHINGTON. Aug. %

r,s 6rst formal utterance from any men,
Ar of the Presidents Cabinet or other high
.mciaI of the Government since the Pope's
n.ace proposal was received came today
,n a scathing denunciation of peace move-
,rents launched In this country.
secretary of Commerce Redheld was the
<.otesman, He declared there were two
rreat opposing ideals in the world-the
,as.ls of autocracy and democracy. Ger
nanv he styled a desperate among nations
I'D declared it was against her militant au-
secrecy that America was fighting.
"In this fearful combat autocracy trem-
Mes on the edge of disaster" the Secretary
.ro,e TO a member of a pacifist organiza-
zion. land this is the time you cunningly
IN your voice in its behalf"
The letter was addressed to j. Z. Van
pvke, East Orange, ~ j., who wrote to
pedfeld asking support of the La Toilette
neace resolution. now in the Senate
In his reply Redfeld declared
81 have received over your signature
under date of the sixteenth instant what
you are pleased to call important request
Tor my favorable consideration on the La
toilette peace resolution
NO WORD FOR BELGIUM
"your communication is extraordinary
.yample no reference to the rape of
nsIoi,in,, nor does 1t SHOW by direct word
or by internal evidence that you have read
The clear and lucid statement by the Pres-
dent on the causes of the war.
There is no word in your communication
that speaks an American spirit You seem
interested to assert evil intentions on the
mart of the nation associated with us in
the war and an equally earnest wish to slur
over the spirit and act on the part of Ger
many, which brought this war into being.
Subtlely and by indirectior you take such
course as would stab your country in the
hack. as would tie the hards of the Presi-
Sent and make ineffective for righteousness
the, sacrifices of our men and our treasure
"You deal with superficialities and neglect
the substance. You chase shadows and ig-
more realities You seem not to know that
there are two great opposing ideals in the
= world, one of which must go down before
the other These ideals are autocracy and
democracy
( "Autocracy has put it's heel on Belgium
Z an Serbia, on Montenegro, on Poland, or
Rumania on a fair part of France.
"1t is Askilled and highly trained autoc-
,.cv, II knows we'll how to disguise its
nurposes and how to conduct through weak
and willing hands a secret campaign IN
MANY lands including our own, hiding itseli
under the guise of fairness. pleading In the
fair name of peace, for the purpose OF
doing its foul deeds
A DESPERATE AMONG NATIONS
AGAINST this militant autocracy whose
hist for power led 1t to begin this murder
Gus war by deliberate attack on nations
Who sought only quiet, against this des-
perado among the nations stand the democ-
racies of the world /; the free peoples against
the PEOPLES that are bound; the peoples
whose ideal is right against the peoples
whose ideal is might.
II "In the fearful combat autocracy treni.
bles on the edge of the disaster, and this
Is the time you cunningly lift your, voice In
Its behalf.
Your country stands today with the
free peoples Of the world in order to make
It safe for a free people to be. In this
larger cause are bound UP many lesser
though still great ones.
For the American people abhor not only
autocracy, but that which autocracy has
4 done in this war. They look with horror or
what autocracy has done in Belgium. They
shrink from what autocracy has done with
the daughters of France. They shuddel
at the continued slaughter Of women anc
children in defenseless towns in the name
Of autocracy. They deeply resent that n1er
and women are sent to a pitiless death tina
autocracy may work it's will upon the seas
Against these and all things like them
wrought by autocracy for its own end, thu
American people stand embattled
NO humane note rings in your letter
No pity for slaughtered nations shows in 1t
But you have an excuse for Germany ant
the moral forces have none.