Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-10
WAR PARTY IN THE OPEN

TT MR.. WILSON has been slow in
l. coming to the boiling point since May
Z, 1915, when the Lusitanla was sunk, it
is no more than fair to say that the most
beligerently inclined group in the nation
has also been slow in saying it was for
war Until very recently not one re-
sponsible citizen of any prominence In
the country has made above whisper
the explicit statement, I'VE should de
clare war on Germany" while speaking
on American soil.
Mr.. Fall said it last week in open Sem
ate. He stood for declaration of war
within the next fifteen minutes" Mr..
George Wharton Pepper has said it in a
public address: There is not a man
within sound of my voice who would not
die happy could he meet his fate in the
first rush of volunteers going to the aid
of thin line which fights for civiliza.
ton along the western 'front.'
They were not saying this year ago
or six months ago or three months ago.
Mr. Roosevelt has not said it yet. Thir-
ty.five thousand Americaps have said 1t
in deeds which are already written in
history. They are fighting in France for
the Allies. The many letters that have
appeared in newspapers inviting Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Pepper to go to Can
ada and from there issue a call for vol
unteers may have been written in mean
and carplng spirit, but they expressed
the sincere conviction of thousands that
it was not hard for Americans to get into
the war irrespective of what the Govern
ment might do. If it is really a question
of conscience and not one Of law, eXpe-
diency and policy, il is far better that the
individual conscience of volunteers should
act before the Government and its con.
scripts Mr.. Wilson has the mandate
has n mandate to do is to make himself
the leader Of war party, The pathetic
position he is in is that OF man who
is about ready to thank his stars when.
ever he can gain a new foe of his peace.
full policy, IL the gaining of such foes is
the only way OF getting backbone into
the Indifferent and undecided groups
among his fellow citizens.
Take for analogy the editorial advice
which was given TO the President, that
he should ask Congress to provide $780,.
900, 900 for the relief of Belgium. Surely
there was no cause for despair when he
did not do so. Twice that amount would
have gone to Belgium by this time II
America had wanted to give this much.
So with the question of war. The
whole point of the legislative tangles Of
the last month was that it was generally
believed that arming the ships would
mean war. 1t was precisely the absence
of a strong war party that permitted
some form OF filibustering against taking
a strong stand for armed defense to
proceed from the moment Germany's
challenge was received on January 81.
AT this rate II Is no more likely that a
strong war party will soon develop than
IL was likely that Congress would take
action TO relieve Belgiums distress.
1t Is not war party that has defeated
a pacifst party In Congress. It Is the
victory Of a less pacifist party over "a
more pacihst party. II means that so
far the only opinion upon which the
country can unite for action is one in
favor OF the protection of our commerce
ship by ship and not one In favor of
Joining the Entente. 1t would probably
take number Of Informal naval actions
h,fors any considerable increase OF our
<1ooo solunteqrs V1lI make ttself fslt