New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-28
The Charter of Humanity
Bv GUSTAV HerUe
Translated bu Barton Blake from Tho Editorials La EiciOe

Now that VIC have the exact text of Mr.
Wilson's address we can say that since the
Declaration Of the Rights Of Man and OF the
Citizen nothing has ever been written that
Is so fine and so moving.
II is the twentieth ccntury's Charter of HUI
manity that the American Republic has writ
ten with President Wilson's pen.
One feels in it from one end to the other
the stir Of a religious breath, an inspiration
at once Christian and republican.
TO tell the truth. this memorable document
is meaningless for those who do not know
that tho American Republic was founded by
irresponsible Calvinists, who, in the seven
teenth century, chose to leave their old Eng
land rather than to suffer the religious and
political oppression Of detestcd despot.
The Calvnist Church, with its pastors
chosen by the rank and file of its faithful,
was from it's beginning through its organi-
zation and through it's absence of hierarchy
and Of aristocracy, a republican church.
The American public has grown, but always
the same Christian ideal Of justice, OF liberty,
of peace and Of human fraternity has ami
mated it.
President Wilson speaks in 1917 as spoke
the pastors Of the Mayfower, the ship which
bore to the other shore Of the Atlantic the
Puritans who fed the prosecutions of Stuart
Charles J.
He is without hate for the German people;
for our part we arc less good Christians.
Perhaps when American soldiers have seen
with their own eyes what savage devasta-
ton. what work of Vandals, the Germans
have accomplished in our northern depart
ments. they, too, will understand why we
nourish somewhat different sentiments for
the German people. But, for the moment
President Wilson cannot believe that an en-
tire nation can be guilty of such fcrocious-
ness.
II is only an autocrac", only tyrant' tnat
can command such denominations.
And Wilson. also, says in his own words to
the German people that which the Russian
revolution has said TO them: "Dethrone
William"
The idea that in the twentieth century a
country can be governed by dcspOt who can
dispose Of the life Of his subjects in reservng
TO himself the right of deciding war and
pcace Is a monstrosity which can scarcely
enter the head Of free man who has IN his
veins the blood Of ten generations OF repub-
Leans
Still less can the conscience Of Christian
and a republican accept the notion that peo-
pic. because it is strong, can hold another
and weaker people in slavery. even though
this other people be adult and fit for self
government
Il is for the rights of nations, for the de-
fence Of international justice, for the estab-
lishment of universal peace, that the great
Christian republic draws its sword from the
scabbard.
We have had our share Of mockery, we re-
publicans and socialists Of France, and so has
our daring idealsm, when we talked of build
ing up in Europe society of nations, ke-
nublic of the United States of Europe and a
Tribunal of international Arbitration. where
in all countries, small and great, should come
to submit their every conflict, court which
should have at its service as an international
notice the armies of every free and peace
loving nation.
We were Utopians; We were chmeric
spirits.
They who criticised US they were reallsts'
The Germans too were realists, counting,
az thew did on brute force and material
mower AS above all things. Right. justice,
political libcrty-thesc were mere catch
words.
But now it is for the defence OF these
catchwords, which arc the common patrlmony
Of humanity, the slow and precious acquisi-