New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-16
A CONGRESSMAN AND THE KAysr.
Comment Upon Mr.. J. Hampton Moor,
Abuse of the American RIGHT, l..

r.
10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: On February 10 ]. Hamp.or n
Representative from Pennsylvania, d.liv.,..
IN congress sensational attack again., ~.
portion of the American press and 49,
which has periodically stood for =. '
wavering defence Of American ri,,,-
American honor The estimsbls esr,,. n'
generously spread his blanket OF AIM.
partially over the public spirited citizen, -
believe in adequate national prepa,sS,..'
the newspapers which give space "a -
ments in favor Of preparedness, thu.
believe America has a duty to perforr, :. NV
Tending civilization against autocrsti. ~,
tarism and those who think that n,rra.-' '''
assaults on American citizens and nOp.co.
batants generally should be forcibly re,i,,.S
As reported in the press, Mr.. Moore CAV. -
excellent imitation Of the German Kaiser ~,
only in the strength of his inveetiye m,
even in so minor detail as calling upon ~,
Almighty TO assist him in passing judgn.,,
upon his enemies-in this case DR.. Tvu,.
Abbott and the Rev. Randolph H. McKim.
Mr.. Moore's complaint against these ~,
divines is that they Joined with other ~
spected citizens in signing a diguifed anna,
asking the American people 70 support ~,
hands of the President and Congress in
vigorous defence of American rights. !, 4,
not reported that Mr.. Moore denounced ~.
unpatriotic behavior Of the pacfsts and Nv,
Germans, who both publicly and in secre, a.,
doing everything in their power 10 weats,
and dscredit the President in his s,ans
against Teutonic barbarism. Nor does /, a..
pear that God was asked to cooperate in A..
nouncing the perncous underground aetiyi.
ties of Bryan and Barthelme His condenp,.
ton was reserved for real Americans va,
would rather see the country involved in an
honorable war for a righteous cause than !,
see it seduced hy unpatrotic pacihsts ip,o
purchasing peace with dishonor
At the risk of taking undue notice Of an ire.
sponsibe attack on a patriotic organization,
word may be pertinent concerning n.
American Rights League, which is respon.
sible for the "disbolical declaration th,t
drew a portion of Mr.. Moore's fire. and
which that gentleman more than hints /,
affiliated with big interests seeking "a
sandbag Congress into war" Mr.. Moores Al.
tack is identical with that of the protein.
man press, which has long accused IN.
league of receiving regular checks from
London and other support from improper
un-American sources. II denial of rockies.
falsehOods is called for, let me say that Ia.
American Rights League is not now, never
has been, and never will be affiliated, eithe,
directly or indirectly, with any un-Amereau
organization or influence. II has never re.
ceived dollar of support from British,
French or any other non-American sources.
/ Its membership is limited to American citi.
zens, and IL has no source of income save
the voluntary contributions Of patriotic
Americans. 1t has no secret connections or
interests, and all of its activities are con.
Quoted in the open. To those acquainted
with public men of high standing and in.
tegrity, the list Of nearly two hundred rep.
resentative Americans composing the officer.
of the league is certain guarantee Of 1t,
honorable purposes and methods.
1t is true that the league believes the
J American people should enter the war with.
out any more "watchful waiting" It con.
siders it cowardly, dishonorable and danger.
Gus for this great nation to stand selfshy
aside while others fight 10 subdue the sub.
marines that have attacked our ships, killed
/ our citizens, and blockaded our coast |.
believes the present war is a contest be.
tween autocratic militarism and human lib.
critics, and that the place of America to-day,
as it has been in the past, is by the side Of
those who battle for liberty. IL prefers 10
see brave men die honorably rather than to
witness the slaughter Of innocent women
and children while shirkers and weaklnC
/ look on unmoved II believes, with the
patriots of rs and of 81, that a war which
establishes justice is less horrible than a
dishonoraDlc peace that leaves wrong tri-
umphant. DOUGLAS W. JOHNSON,
/ Chairman Executive Committee America
Rights League
/ New York, Feb. 10, 1917.