The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-03

power and 10 set up amongst the really free and
self.govcrned peoples OF the world such "A con.
cert OF purpose and Of action AS Will henccfOrth
insure the observance OF those principles.
Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable
where the peace of the world is involved and
the freedom Of its peoples. and the menace to
that peace and freedom lies in the existence
of autocratic governments backed by organized
force which is controlled wholly by their will,
not by the will of their people. We have seen
the last OF neutrality in such circumstances.
We are at the beginning of an age in which
IT will be insisted that the same standards of
conduct and of responsibility for wrong done
shall be observed among nations and their Gov
ernments that are observed among the indHid-
ual citizens OF civilized states.
We have no quarrel with the German pcO.
pie. We have no feeling toward them hut one
OF sympathy and friendship. II was not upon
their Impulse that their Government acted In
entering this war. 1t was not with their pre-.
,iOus knowledge or approval.
1t was a war determined upon as wars used
to be determined upon in the old. unhappy days
when peoples were nowhere consulted by their
rulers and wars were provoked and waged in
the interest OF dynasties or of little groups OF
ambitious mon who were accustomed to use
their fellow men as pawns and tools
Self-soverned nations do not fill their neigh
Dor States with spies or set the course Of in
trgue to bring about some critical posture of
affairs which will give them an opportunity TO
strike and make conquest. Such designs can he
successfully worked only under cover and where
no ono has the right to ask questions.
Cunningly contrived plans of deception or
aggression. carried. it may be- from generation
to generation, be worked out and kept
from the light only within the privacy of
behind the carefully guarded con-
fidences OF narrow ana privileged class
They are happily impossible where public
opinion commands and insists upon full in
formation concerning all the nations affairs.
fos caM ncy ta
maintained except by n partnership OF demo.
cratic nations. No autocratlc Government could
be trusted to keep faith within Il or observe Its
covenants. II must he league Of honor. e
partnership Of opinion. Intrigue would eat It's
Vita!s away. tho plOttings Of inner circles who
could plan what they would and render account
TO no ono would be a corruption seated Mt H.,
very heart. Only free peoples can hold their
purpose and their honor steady 10 common
end and prefer tho interests OF mankind 10 any
narrow interest Of their own.
Does not every American feel that a&Sur-
ancc has been added 10 our hope for tho future
peace of the world by the wonderful and heart
cnin. things that have been happening within
the last few weeks in Russia?
Russia was known by those who knew i,
best TO hnve been always in fact democratic at
heart in all the vital habits ~ hcr thought, in
all tho intimate relationships of her people that
spoke their natural instinct, their habit1al att-
tudc toward lie.
Autocracy tina; crowned tho summit of her
political structure. long as II hai stood and
terrible the reality of its power, was
not in fact Russian i'll origin in character or
purpose: and now il has been shaken and the
great; generous Russian people have been
added. in all their native majesty and might to
the forces that are fighting for freedom in the
world. for justice and for peace. Here is fit
partner for Il league Of hopor.
one OF the things that have served to COZ, =
vince us that the Prussan autocracv was not
and could never he our friend is that from the
very outset of the present war Il has filed our
unsuspecting communities and even our Offices
Of Government with spies and set criminal in
trisues everywhere Ifoot against our national
unity OF council, our peace within and without
our industries and cur commerce.
Indeed II is now e"dent that its spies were
mere even before the war began. and it is. un-
happily. not matter of conjecture but a fact
proved in our courts OF justice thar the in
triSues which have more than once come ner
iously near TO disturbing the peace and dslo
eating the industries of the country have been
carried on at the instigation with the support
ana even under the personal direction of OF,
clal agents of the Imperial German Goyernm.n,
accredited TO the Government OF the United
States.
Even in checking these things and tr,ipr .r
eNurpate them We have sought to put the most
generous Interpretation possible upon them he
cause We knew that their source lay, not ir
any hostile feeling or purpose of the German
people toward us 'who were. no doubt as iCnor.
ant OF them ourselves were) but only
IN the selfish designs of Government that dit
what 1t pleased and told its people nothing Bu,
they have played their part in serving 10 con.
vince us at last that that Government enter
tains no real friendship for us and means tc
act against our peace and security at its CON
Venience. That IT means to stir up cneln,c
against us at very doors the intercente,
note to the German Minister at Mexico cit,
is eloquent evidence
We are accepting this challenge OF hostil,
purpose because we know that in such a Coy.
ernment following such methods, We can ncve,
have a friend; and that in the presence Of IL.