New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-01
ROUND THE EVERGREEN CLOTH :
BY xa M eA4M :
American
Hesitation
by Courtesy Of The Nei0 Republic

~ of war will during the next few days
be declared to exist between the
United States and Germany. In spite Of the
profound reluctance Of the American people
them regard as an essentially European quar-
rel, in spite Of the extremely pacific disposi.
ton Of the President and his party, the Ger
man submarine campaign has forced the
United States into the war by the inexorabls
logic Of its own situation and purposes. 1t
could not agree wholly TO withdraw its flag
from the high seas at the bidding Of an In
ternational aggression. 1t could not insist
on neutral rights against both belligerents
without doing more harm TO the Allies than
to Germany and without in effect assisting
Germany to win the war. Unless, conse-
quently, it was to abandon any title TO be
consulted about the system Of law and gov
eminent which was to prevail on the high
seas during war, it must oppose German ag-
erosion with armed resistance That is the
course which all Of their reluctance TO enter
the war, all Of their deeply rooted pacifsm,
all of their tradition and pride Of neutral in
dependence, has not enabled the American
people to avoid.
The roots Of the American reluctance to
participate actively in the war run very
Deep They are buried in the varied origin
Of American racial stocks, in the nature and
limits Of American national experience, and
in the extent to which genuinely super-na-
tiona sympathies and ideas have been
wrought into the national consciousness. The
popular irresolution has implied an instinc-
tive insight into one aspect of the intricate
and tragic meaning Of the war which the
bellicose pro-Ally sympathizers have over
looked. In the eyes Of the latter the war has
raised no issue which an American needs 10
consider except that between the violators anS
defenders of Belgium; between Germany
the enemy of democratic progress and Ere
and Great Britain as its friends. BT y
American popular consciousness knew !
1t sympathized with the French and
and their cause, but it also sympatt
the sufferings of the peoples of +
whole, irrespective somewhat Of Z
animosities and their diverge AZ
While groups of Americans ha teS
ately the need of fighting on arc
can popular consciousness 81
all sides. 1t was dominated az
instructive repulson to the reslHH
ducng in this country the full enon.c
European schsm, and this repul'\JI'
expression of an essential natte
The future Of American democrs
with that of organized and purpG
tionalism. Unlike the great Euro
this political catholicism is in
merely an ideal, but living thing
been wrought by its history and its n
into the fabric of the national lif
quarrel which has divided the Eur
tons against one another were rec =,
in this country without any change
or outlook, it would certainly and T,
vide the composite and humanistic q
democracy against itself and lead to n
national disintegration.
The war is the greatest tragedy in
not because it is the most stupendous ca.
in history. The decline and fall of the r
Empire was an even more stupendous calan
It cost humanity a larger measure of desolaA
and suffering. II is supremely tragic becauA
the desolation and suffering is at once author
lied by the statutes Of the modern world and
outlawed by its ideals, because European states
manshp is reduced TO the awful programme
of prolonging indefinitely the existence OF the
agony in the professed hope of preventing its
repetition. It is utterly tragic because never
before in the history of the world has 50 much
goodwill and loyalty so much disinterested
self-dedication, so much potential enthusiasm
for human welfare, such high degree OF
technical skill, scientific knowledge and CO.
Operative organzation-so many OF those I'M
pulses. gifts and attanments which are capable
of contributing to the fulflment Of human life
been devoted to its Illustration. II Is con-
sequently more than disaster. II belongs TO
the class of sinful yet fateful errors which
strip civilization bare Of its subterfuges and
leave it face 10 face with the intoerable con-
sequences of its own ultimate delinquencies.
The conception Of the European war as q
tragedy which embodies the dilemma Of modern
civilization helps to explain both why the
American people have been irresolute and
perplexed about going in, and why the irres-
olution has been overcome even though the
perplexity persists. If the war were chiefly a
colossal but accidental calamity, they might
as the pacifsts claim, avoid the suffering and
the dangers by refusing 10 participate. Or II
it were chiefly transparent opportunity for
the exhibition Of moral brayado, they could
not decently and honorably refuse TO partici-
ate, but by their participation they would only
be adding another cohort TO the army Of tho
Lord and they would have no right TO march