New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-08
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF Inc Tribune.
Sir: If the country has gone mad, how can
il be restored to its senses? Is every appeal
to reason to be made in vain? Are the 'feei-
ers" and not the thinkers to control and
guide the progress OF American civilization
Shall we exude sentiment until we are TOO
weak 70 act with decision and promptitude
Is an exorbitant premium henceforth TO be
demanded in payment of the right TO exercise
judgment and intelligence? These are some
of the great questions brutally forced upon
our attention by the exigences of war; and
rot, as we should like to believe, brought
quietly to our notice By the logical sequence
Of inteligently directed trains of thought
One thing is certain. The correct answers
to these questions probably will not be given
first in any one of our state legislatures nor
in Congress, nor by any of the persons who
believe themselves to be the political leaders
of the people. Some other source OF inspira-
ton must be sought for
Democracy is on trial, wishfully waiting
while facing world crisis. and decision is
being reached in which we (thnk of 1t! are
Just beginning TO take an active interest as to
whether government of the people, by the
people. for the people shall perish from the
earth"
Our Fog Of Sentiment
Asa nation we have made little preparation
either to defend our rights or prepare our
minds for dealing successfully with any great
vital issue Our vision is clouded with fog
Of sentiment and we have begun TO form the
habits of wishful thinking and wshful wait
ing We drift with every stream Of senti-
ment and dream until rudely awakened by
the shock of some disaster For two and
half years we have talked about the European
war and hattered ourselves that as reward
for our special virtues we had actually be-
come the only defenders Of the faith and or
what seemed 10 n few persons to be the rem
nant of civilization. We need a Lincoln to
thank the Pharisees, as once he did, FOR
bringing me the only direct message from
God Almighty have ever received
So mentally unprepared have we been to
quit ourselves like men, that all forms OF
specious arguments and nauseous cant have
been utilized to hide the defects in our man
hood and the third sex quality of our virtues
Our unpreparcdness for war is greatly ex-
ceeded By our unpreparedness for peace. We
DO not recognize the great defeat we have
suffered We have tried to live in the pres
cnt. but the struggle has been too much for
us. and so. like a person afflicted with aliena-
ton, we have taken refuge in an imaginary
world from which any reference to war ana
even the rumors of war were temporarily
bahished Even German intrigues in Mexico
were not considered possible.
What do the "feelers' care for the lessons
of history? II we learn as nation, they tell
us, to feel our superiority, we can afford 70
ignore the past. The political conception OF
democracy has worked many miracles, but
when did IL give US such an accurate method
for studying the personality that now we
know how to eradicate belligerent instincts
and sentiments and are ready to give guaran-
tees for permanent peace. Is peace worth
having if it is gained by sacrificing our in
telieence? What hope is left for American
civilization if we express publicly our deter
nination to abandon both common sense and
reason?
Sanity or Insanity Matter of Degree
The difference between what we call sanity
and insanity is merely matter OF degree
and involves no specific distinctions per-
son is sane when the actual conditions or lie
are faced squarely and calmly, nervous when
the process Of read ustment gives rise TO
huster and anxiety, and insane wnen the BACK
is turned on reality and refuge Is sought IN
an imaginary world created by Authorizations,
delusions and wishful thinking. Sanity is
measured by our readiness to accept the
world as it is and by our capacity to adjust
our lives TO meet actual conditions. When
The struggle taxes our capacity for adjust
ment TOO severely we dodge the issue; some
times by Withdrawing from the world and
saving nothing, but generally By maintaining
Il position and offering various apologies for
the evident failures. The apology may take
the form of a frank confession Of made
euacv, but more often the wish becomes the
father of the thought and behavior is repre-
sented as we should like to have it appear
and not as it actually is. AS the personal
struggle and sense of personal defeat IN at
tanning ideals become more acute the desire
for peace is proportionately increased. OF
course il would never do to admit land the
pacifst never does) that the peace the heart
longs for is the expression of emotional
welter induced by personal struggle, as this