New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-08
To the Editor of The Tribune.

o the hQltOr OF Inc lIlOuHS'
Sir: When President Wilson broke relations
with Germany he did the right thing, as usual
II looks as if we would go TO war. Although
q paciist and mollycoddle, am inclined 70
welcome it.
Nobody in this country except George
Haven Putnam, T. R., a few rabid militarlsts
and, for some inexplicable reason, The New
York Tribune has wanted war; least OF all
the several million young men who must night
it, among whom am one, and for most oil
whom believe am speaking. We are most
Of US pacifists. We hate war because 1t is
stupid. brutal, neutrality-suspicious. be-
cause it is a confession OF inability OF the
finer forces in civilization to guide the coarse
always. We are most of US mollycoddles We
confess to a hankerlng after the heshpotS oil
luxury. We neither ride horseback twenty
miles before breakfast, nor stalk the herce
| iaguar to his lair for the fun OF H. or Tor 20
cents a word. We haven't the necessary eapl-
tai. And we much prefer to watch the Giants
or loll about the vicious tango tea with some
nulchritudinous "peach" of whom we are pass
ing fond.
Nevertheless. if the President will grasp
this oportunity. as we believe he Will, to MAKE
our war. once entered, fight to the finish
on the one great American issue, when mas
taken an international aspect, we mollycod-
dies will fight. That issue is different one
from that upon which the great war is al
present being waged. -,
A victory for the Allies does not necessarily
l.. Tar
mean victory for us. We have little inter
est in a partition Of Germany, except as sucn
a partition establishes justice which ssalI
make further wars improbable there We
hone this nation is not going to hght war
with all the bitter mental, physical and spir'
itual costs of war, for any indemnity or re-
venqe, for business losses or even Tor losses
Of life. That would only penalze most o.
workingmen with whom we have no quarrel
and whom we are inclined to admire, having
seen their brothers over here.
This war of ours, if we are TO De PROUD 70
| fight it, must be for guarantee through th'
wears TO come of the rule of moral law IN IN
ternational dealings. That is what the fresi'
don't has indicated that our fight, If any would
be for But that carries with it far more
serious conflict than that in which the AllieS
are engaged. Their participation Is cloudeo
! by economic and political interests. 3ost OF
| them are fighting just now with high Ideals
similar to those which this country must hold
But none of them can present their record OF
diplomacy through the last twenty years, az
nations coming into court with clean hands
When President Wilson called upon them
To state the objects for which they were hght
| ing ne placed upon the United States the Oh
| legation to tell exactly for what we are tgnt
| ing, if we fight When we say, for the RUE
of moral law" we are speaking in meaning
less phrases as does Germany when she says
'for the freedom of the seas" What definite
end can this country hope to attain by wal
which shall guarantee TO its satisfaction the
rule of moral law?
! Can the government of Germany guarantee
/ to MS that it will conduct itself according tC
ethics satisfactory to an enlightened human
lity? | think not Therefore | believe that the
sending home of Won Bernstortf had deeper
meaning than that customarily recognized
President Wilson, hope and believe, knows
| that meaning.
| II means that we can have no dealings with
the men who are guilty of murder, primarily
| because they are murderers, as was Huerta
and secondariy because we can place no trus'
/ in their guarantee or word. When they re
pudiate a solemn promise they have made us
/ shall we take another one from them? Woulc
we not be very shortsghted to do tin the ligh
of their violation of other agreements, when
ever it suited their convenence-as in Bel
GUM? They have confessed their word but q
scrap of paper Further than their word con
| fession is their admission of it by numerous
| oyert acts Shall we pour out the best bloot