New-York tribune., 1917-07-16
Fighting 70. America

To the Editor of The Tribune.
SIR. The Tribune has declared ITS mae
nendence. For me Tuesday, July lo' 1915
shall always be red letter day, for on that
dav NV newspaper, The New York Tribune
one Of the greatest agencies OF the 'ru.h III
these blessed United States, declared It's lhae-
pendence Of all things un-Ameriean' ana IN d
sharn. clean editorial, Russia and the United
States" set before the world real American
nolicv. and now follows another, equally as
nulsatinc and invgorating from an American
standnoint "We Should Be Represented.
In these times. when a majority OF writers
seem 10 think that an editorial IN "h'c"
British and French ideas predomlna'e Is
equally American, 1t is most refreshing 10 ma
: representative paper not only concerning
such an attitude, but also setting out 10 cor
rect it By showing how they diner ana "Hy
Allied ideals can never be made the Ideals OF
C. democratic America.
Newly born Russia, with her ideals an
nounced TO the world, has stolen America
thunder. Our aims are identical with Rus
sia's, and The Tribune is doing much needed
work when it asks our leaders 20 announce
this tact to the world.
The sentiment of New England has always
been America first" and since we have gotten
into the war New England has shown that the
spirit of 1916 still lives. We are ready 70
fight for our United States when they are
threatened but our sentiment, surely more
pro-Ally than the country in general, is not
the sentiment of our Allies. The war Is un-
popular (no use denying the fact). and no
amount Of props ganda can popusrlZe II. And
Uncle Sans Official family must be made 70
hot the propia do ~ think II 70
the United States TO fight until any one of our
allies is in a position 70 demand the territory
il has agreed to claim. America must see TO
IL that no one nation gains as a result OF this
war Humanity in general must gain but
when we hear the war is 70 last until England
gets this and France and Italy that. sre we
wrong in suspecting such people Of having
leaning toward our allies and az our own ex-
pense? II not, why don't they claim some.
thing for the United States? We never hear
word about what Uncle Sam is TO get. Yet
the Allies admit Il there is a military victory
that the United States will be the deciding
factor If the United States desires no re-
turn for furnishing the balance of power so
necessary for the triumph of democracy, why
should our allies rush in and pick out their
prizes when we have decided the contest?
Does a world democracy mean a world con
'lolI'd py LHs!dnd ana lhe AllleS Or
wouldn't it be better TO trust that the United
States would be q better nation to hold any
so-called balance of power. if such thing is
absolutely necessary? History tells.
When We read Of the sacrifices that lie be-
fore us in men and money. are we 70 be
blamed If we wish TO conserve both resources
as much possible by looking for every
righteous opportunity that will help shorten
the war?
But Il we are determined TO fight until the
ever-increasng demands of the Allies are
made possible, is 1t not natural to suppose
our enemies would prefer 10 go down fighting
rather than have their territories par,itiorsd
cut to our allies, with Uncle sam the direct
cause of their misfortune, acting merely a. 4.
spectator 20 this after the war party?
We are fighting for America, ssd when we
have attained our end our war iTover
The Tribune voices the sentiment Of Am.r.