New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-09

around the world. estimated the value
from their point Of view Of the nations
with whom they might he concerned
and. profoundly contcmptuous of our
views Of civilization, whether they he
British views or whether they ne
American views. they decided that
neither British nor American counted
in the struggle by which they hoped
10 obtain the domination Of the world.
They found us unprepared; they found
US unmiltary; and because We were
unprepared and because We were IN
military, they jumped rashly 20 tho
conclusion, firstly, that We were AFRAID
20 fight, and, secondly that II VIC
fought we should be wholly negligible
quantities. think they arc beginning
possibly 10 find out their mistake.
Germany's Mistake
How. ladies and gentlemen, did that
mistake ever arise? IL arose from the
utter iHcapacity Of tho German ruling
class-and II Is only Of the German
ruling class that | speak to-day 10
estimate value except in terms OF
drilled men and military preparations.
They saw that England and America
were prosperous, were unwarilke. were
immersed in the arts Of peace and II
volved in the industrial interests m
cident TO peaceful civilization, ana
they drew from that two conclusions.
They drew from ~ in the first place
the conclusion that because We were
commercial We were therefore ma
terial; that we were incapable OF high
ideals or great sacrifices and that oven
II VIC determined late in the day 20
pursue those high ideals and 10 make
II ..tr hn n
utterly incompetent in tho arts H.
which they had devoted so much oi
their attention, that our interference
in the war would be thing which
they could leave wholly on one side.
On that miscalculation have been
wrecked and will be wrecked all their
hopes. It was their fatal blundcr
blundcr from which they will never
recover. but blundcr which has
saved civilization.
Confident Of Result
81 speak with confidence about the
issue of this great struggle coh-
iidcncc which is redoubled since YOU
have thrown i'm your lot with those
who have been fighting since 1914. |
see. indeed, suggestions that Germany,
incapable of winning by arms. IS go
ing to win through the illegitimate
weapon of submarine warfare. ! be
licvc IL not. do not At all minimize.
] do not wish TO minimize, the gravity
Of the submarine menace. After all,
in the two years and half for which
the war has been going on, more than
one difficulty of like magnitude has
met us; more than one difficulty Of
like magnitude has been overcome.
This war Is not going to be settled
by the sinking of helpless neutrals or
by sending women and children 10 the
bottom BY torpedoes or guntire. IT IS
20 be settled by hard fighting, and
when it comes TO hard fighting
neither America nor Britain nor
France need fear measuring them
selves at any moment against those
who have risen up against all that we
hold dear for the future.
Il therefore look forward, not Of
course in a spirit of light and easy
and unthinking confidence, but with
firm faith, to the future OF this war.
II requires every man and woman on
this side Of the Atlantic, as on the
other side Of the Atlantic, to throw
their efforts into the scale Of right;
but that effort unquestionably will be
made. is being made, will be made yet
further. and If il be made no more
doubt that success will crown oUr
efforts, and that posterity Will look
back upon the unions Of these peoples.
symbolized by such meetings as that
which ! am now addressing. as marx
ing a new epoch in the history Of the
world in which all the civilized ma
tons aroused themselves in unity TO
deal with one Of their number which
has forgotten its possibilities, for
gotten its duties and. in the un-
scrupulous lust for universal domino
ton, has brought the greatest o.
known caamities upon the world.