The Washington herald., 1917-04-01
America and the World-War
AS Judged by the Editors

the President may be turned from the
course, which he evidently intended to
pursue, when he proclaimed an earlier
assembling of Congress in special .ses-
sion. because of grave matters OF ma
tional policy which should "be taken
Immediately under consideration The
third group is an important element of
the overwhelming majority, and is COM
posed OF those politically opposed to the
chief magistrate who are willing to go
with him the full length In the prosccu-
ton or vigorous policy, but are doubt
full Of his ability. however good his in
tention, to stem the forces of timidity.
vacillation. and procrastination within his
own party. This group is ever alert for
signs that bid fair to strengthen its sus-
picion of so-called Democratic incompe-
tence. The fourth group is of dual COM
position. 1t contains not only the genu-
ine pacifists, that is. people who are con-
stitutionally opposed to force, on any
ground, and who believe that permanent
peace can be attained only through pacific
methods. and people who assume the
cloak Of paciflsm only to disguise their
leanings toward pro-Germanism. The
nth. most active. most tireless and most
unscrupulous as well as the smallest of
all, Is composed OF those persons who
either do not attempt to conceal, or do
not succeed in concealing. a deeper solici-
tude for the welfare of the central pow
ers than for anything else. -
Join the Allies!
Boston Transcript)
The plain duty of Congress Is to speak
the truth. The truth Is that Germany has
for some time been waging war against
the United States. The duty Of Congress
is to recognize and declare that fact.
and to authorize the President as COM
mander-in-chief of the army and navy
to take appropriate action
The plain duty of the President, both
as commander-in-chief and as director of
the foreign relations OF the United States,
to enter into an offensive and defensive
war alliance with Great Britain. France.
Russia. Belgium, Italy. Roumania. Portu-
gal and Japan, and to make 1t an in
tegral and essential part of that alliance
that no separate peace shall be made
with the common foe.
That is a duty for the sake Of our own
selfish welfare. II we enter this war. as
We cannot avoid doing, we ought to be
assured OF a voice in the making Of
peace. We ought TO be assured Of a
satisfactory safeguarding Of American
interests in the making OF peace. We
ought to make sure of obtaining in
demnity for the losses which Germany
has inflicted upon US. We ought to be
protected against the possibility. how
ever remote It may be. that the other
powers will settle with Germany with
out regard for US, leaving Germany free
to continue her war against US, with
out our any longer enjoying the protec-
ton which the British feet now gives
US.
We Renew Our Pledge to the World
philadelphia Ledger.)
1t is no new doctrine that will be voiced
today at the worlds most sacred shrine
of liberty-Independence Hall. More than
a century has left unsulled and unchal-
lengable the elemental principles OF 1776
The alignment of enemies has changed
Our ancient foe, England; our ancient
friend. France. are now exponents of
those very concepts OF freedom for which
the Revolution was fought. Renewal of
our immortal pledges awakens in them
hope, not fear.
In 1917 the very self-consciousness of
our acts augments their force. We do
not wish to proclaim a new and untried
creed OF liberty and manhood. We seek
to be worthy of the old. The trainers of
the Declaration felt the sense Of rectitude
in their own souls Our modern souls
respond. too: but every thrill which fills
them is intrenched by mighty fortresses
of attested fact We know not merely
what liberty might be. but what it ac-
tually is.
1t is. therefore. the firm ground under
our feet. the full knowledge of what free
government. tested in the fire of expe-
rience. triumphant over perils. means.
that adds luster to what We do today
Germany is fighting for tyranny without
KNOWN; what freedom Is We wear an
armor forged of old. Our conscious and
solemn pride in its possession is the pride
Of humility and reverence. But we are
surely right in believing that against 1t
not all the forces of darkness can finally
Prevail