New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-16
A PoItroon Leader

Six weeks ago The Tribune warned the
Republicans of the new House of Repre-
sentatives against trying to elect James
r. Mann Speaker. Mr.. Mann's latest per-
Torrance makes it appropriate to repeat
that warning.
As leader of the Republican minority in
the present House the Representative
from Illinois has disclosed fatal lack OF
vision and judgment. He has shown a
painful indifference to the maintenance OF
American rights. He has advocated a
waiver of those rights. He has favored
warning Americans not to take passage on
merchant vessels travelling through Ger
many's war zones" If he could have his
way, all American vessels would now tie
up to their berths in home ports, thus
iacitly recognizing the validity and effec-
tiveness of the illegal and barbarous Ger
nan submarine blockade.
A man with these ideas of national
abasement and self-effacement has no
place at the head of the Republican organ
.zation in the House of Representatives.
The Republican party stands for the pres
ervation of national honor. 1t cannot &C
sept the cowardly counsel of those who are
resolved to swallow any and every insult
which Germany may offer us and who are
bent on avoiding the annoyances and dis
comforts of fighting, whatever the cost.
The Republican minority leader has just
exhibited afresh his capacity for mischief
He slipped into the naval appropriation
bill on Wednesday an amendment reading
as follows: at is hereby affirmed to be
he policy of the United States to adjust
and settle its international disputes
through mediation or arbitration, to the
md that war may be honorably avoided"
If this declaration means anything at
his iuncture, it must mean that our pres
,nt difficulty with Germany should be sub
nitted TO arbitration. Germany has forced
var on US. A state of war actually exists,
20 far as German operations at sea are
concerned. The German government has
given US ample notice that our rights on
he high seas have been abrogated by 1t IN
difference to German military necessities.
Ne are in that state as regards Germany
which President Madison so aptly de-
,cribed as existing between the United
States and Great Britain when he said in
sis war message Of June l, 1872: 1--WE
sehold. in fine, on the side of Great
Britain a state of war against the United
States. and on the side of the United
States a state of peace toward Great
Britain"
So far as German intentions and actions
20 a state of war already exists. We have
passed beyond the possibility of arbitra-
lion. Germany denies US our rights and
challenges US to reassert them by force.
The declaration which Mr.. Mann jockeyed
nto the naval appropriation bill is there
!ore without pertinence. 1t is worse than
mpertinent. It is destructive of Ameri-
IAN self-respect. II is a contemplate gest-
ire of surrender.
Nothing would suit Germany better than
o have US beg her to arbitrate. She would
20 on enforcing her edicts at sea while
he arbitration proceeded, thus gaining all
Ter military ends. She has said that the
blockade must stand. She will not yield
hat point, even if we 90 down on our
5nees to her.
Mr.. Mann may have been influenced in
part by desire to play cheap political
parliamentary trick on the Administration.
His action will undoubtedly embarrass
,ome of the Presidents supporters in Con-
yress. But the leader who stoops to play
,etty partisan tricks at a juncture like this
not the sort of leader whom any party
AN afford 10 trust or honor. Mr.. Mann
;hould be blackisted from now on by his
Republican colleagues.