New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-01
The death of Liberty"

That the loud lamentations of radicals,
foreign-born agitators and German sym
pathizers over "the departed spirit Of
American liberty" have aroused so little re-
sentiment speaks well for the good humor Of
the American public. But cannot pacifist
obstructionists find some more convincing
line of talk than these whimperings? 1t
seems to have become the favorite form of
melodrama with every minority group
whose pet theories are not at once written
into the Constitution of the United States
20 weep over our lost freedom, cry out
against democracy as sham and call upon
newly liberated Russia to behold the agony
Of Darkest America"
Even if our radicals have no pride IN
their own country, they might show little
more consideration for the Russians. 1t
is asking a good deal of the Russians, busy
as they are just now, to divert their atten-
ton to the woes of distant, down-trodden
America. One suspects that it is not the
Russian but the German whose ear Is
alert to catch the sounds Of this nonsen-
steal dirge over the imaginary death Of our
freedom. 1t was Berlin that first an
nounced the news that liberty had departed
from these shores; it is Berlin that has
steadily tried to keep up the impression
that democracy everywhere, and particu-
larly in America, was failure. Radicals
in this respect as in many others, have
taken their cue from the interests which
they consciously or unconsciously serve.
AS a matter Of fact, the spirit of liberty
was never more vigorous and active, both
in America and elsewhere, than it IS now.
Do radicals think the average American IS
so blind to the events of these times as not
to see that it is the rebirth, rather than
the death, of liberty that has come?
When before in human history was two
thirds of civilization in arms fighting for
the right Of nations to govern themselves!
When did a nation ever enter conflict more
irrevocably committed to the defence OF
freedom than has the United States IN en-
tering the lists against Prussian tyranny?
When before even in America, were such
radical measures adopted, or even seriously
contemplated, for the protection Of the peo-
pie against exploitation as the industrial
war measures now under consideration IN
Washington? When and where in time
Of war were alien enemies ever treated with
such tolerance as they enjoy in the United
States to-day? Where else has the at
tempt to throttle the press with military
censorship been so promptly checked?
Where has the immigrant found such well
come, opportunity and freedom for self
expression as here under the institutions
which he denounces because Of their hated
English origin?
True. our democracy has its tragic fail
ures. But does the radical think ne IS the
original discoverer of that fact or IS
the only one who loves freedom? No IN
telligent American contends that liberty
here is complete or that American democ-
racy has not many great tasks ahead Of 1t
before it reaches q satisfactory stage OF
development. But with all It's evils 1t is
enough better than the best autocracy to
be worth fighting for. That is the whole
issue at present. The issue Is not some aD-
stract idea of ultimate and complete de-
mocracy. 1t is: Shall we save from the
menace of Prussianism as much democ-
racy as we already have? Do radicals
think we shall be any nearer their ideal
Of freedom if Germany wins this war
Every Socialist, democrat, friend OF free
dom in any form, must see that if Germany
comes out of this conflict victorious even
The freedom we have achieved Will be
dead thing.