New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-23

iultIttL ma, ABOVE all, nOUui HhFt 0P"hN'
America stands united around its flag. What
n nation is, how it is formed, we see now in a
striking manner, and we learn how multi
tude that rejoiced in its diversity, and whose
millions of individuals scattered their forces
in space, feels the birth of one common
thought The American workshop, the most
extraordinary that the world knows, that
proudly wished to be nothing else and de-
spised the forms in which the peoples Of Eu-
rope lnger. wishes of its own free will to be-
come still more nation.
prodgious spectacle How did the thing
happen? The Germans say, at is the result
of English and French intrgues"; or else,
at is to keep up tho profits of the ammuni-
ton factories" Stupidity Such paltry rea-
sons do not give nation the idea that its
honor is at stake. What has taken place in
America is a victory Of the aristocracy Of the
intellect and of the noblest and most social
elements which were slumbering in America.
Since the beginning Of 1915 | insisted here
or the friendship and sympathy which the
elite of the American Republic felt toward
us. | quoted numerous articles written by
the teachers and young pupils of the Univer-
sites Of Harvard, Massachusetts, and Berke-
ley, California and commented on their ex-
treme Importance. In America the university
set are the only ones who have ideas in the
European sense of the word; the other parts
of the country hive on impressions and dis
jointed rumors. In a country where there is
little tradition the universities serve as a
framework and create extremely strong ties.
On the public mind, therefore, their opinion
is of an importance | cannot exaggerate.
They are the centres OF general development
and humanity. ! saw revolution of con-
science preparing there, and now it has been
accomplished.
The progress Of France has been continu-
Gus Those guiding minds, who had been
friendly toward us from the beginning, in
spred with their point of view populations
who seemed satisfied with a powerful mate
rial development and who felt certain dis
dan for our old-fashioned struggles. Even
if we were not vitality interested in this
tremor which is shaking the United States
from one end to the other, we would surely
wish to know and understand how these
things developed and how American hearts
were joined and welded together in national
accord since the winter months of l9l4-n5,
when sporadic symptoms Of enthusiasm ap-
reared over there in few intellectuals.
German Prestige in America
Before the war, at the beginning Of the
war-what prestige did not Germany enjoy in
America! Europe seemed so completely DOM
mated and Germanzed that il was not worth
her while to defend herself-and the few
cases of resistance here and there were to
them merely internal quarrels. Do you wish
proof of this, singular enough but typical
In American Libraries cited to me, books
such as Pages Lorraines," dedicated to the
Valley Of the Moselle; eau Service de PAlle-
mande." Colette Baudoche, are classed under
the heading Germany" because it seems to
the wise librarians over there that our anti
Germanism is but weak reaction IN the en-
tirety of the Germany Empire, mere episode
to which the victorious strength of Germany
must give its character and appellation. And
in the same way, Cardinal Jean de Lorraine"
nv our good master, A. Collignon (the Nancy
professor), figures in the section Germany.
That is pretty strong, but are we not accus-
toned TO see the works of Claude Gellee, VINO
was born on the upper Moselle, in the Duchy
of Lorraine, ranged in the German school by
all the museums beyond the Rhine?
Germany exercised its prestige by reason
of its victories and its lessons. I'VE are
great workshop in the making" said an Amer
lean to me, "and it was Germany that could
show us the best examples of administration,
of public hygiene, of municipal highways;
those lessons were better and more lmme-
diately suited to us than the belated lessons
of England or the too secret lessons of your
refined French taste" In their too naive
confidence. the Americans would have liked to
enter the school of German morality. They
admired the German housewife transplanted
10 America. This fruitful wife, thinking
only OF household cares" seemed to be an ad-
mirable and worthy model for the young
American girl, infinitely more brilliant, but
animated by perpetual movement. What did
Americans wish above all? To better mate
rial life. Those Germans who organized so
we'll domestic and municipal life seemed TO
them civilized in the highest sense of the
word
The Awakening
The first shock was the tragedy of Belgium.
The German government was obliged to
alIude to it in its note and to try to exoner-
ate itself. Those great merchants took Of
fence on learning that Germany tore up an
unattackable contract and boldly dlsowned
her signature. signature, given word,
are positive things, tangible realities. Then