New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-23
Not a "Dynastic Policy
Consumption, if Decreed, Will BE
Preservation of Our Liberties

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir The letter of Mr. Balch in to-day's
Tribune is certainly sincere. but seems to be
based on fundamental error "a to our
form Of government lie states: "Conscrip-
ton is a reaction to dynastic policiesi II Is
wholly out Of accord with the spirit OF Amer
lean institutions"
Our nation is a republic with a govern
ment OF the representative type, not direct
democracy. In some democratic governments,
when the chosen leaders disagree with the
representative body, an election Is heid ana
the people, by vote, support either the leaders
or the legislative or parliamentary oody'
thus deciding the issues. Under our type oil
democratic government we choose, by vote
our leaders, who arc our executives and legls-
lative bodies, for definite periods, and place
upon them the burden of deciding all issues
which arise within such periods. AT the con
clusion of each period OF service we have
the option Of saying "Well done" or Get out
But while in Office though subject TO crit
cism, they are responsible for the conduct OF
the government The people, by vote, have
so decided in advance. That is the actually
Of applied government by majority under
the representative type Of democracy.
When a crisis comes demanding action
or which in the opinion of the elected repre-
sentetives demands action - the act, when
done, is the act of the people. IL Crisis
in the judgment of the elected representa-
tives, demands conscription, such conscrip-
ton then becomes not "dynastic policy but
governmental sef-preservatlon, endeavorlng
TO save TO the world and for ourselves and
our chidren's children the very essence or
FgVFr CF
racv. How true this is can be shown by
stating the diverse. Suppose failure to use
immediate and fully effective means, even
conservation, permitted our enemy to win.
Tho dulv elected leaders would have failed
utterly. been false to their trust, volunteers
would have died in vain and our form OF
government would have ceased to exist upon
the earth.
The sole question is the necessity OF con
scription. II must be answered by the
elected representatives Of the people. If they
answer yves" then no question remains. II
is their duty to answer and ours to acquiesce.
Every man who believes in our form Of
government believes in it TO the extent OF ms
all-property and life itself-to preserve u.
The fathers of the Republic fought for ana
achieved liberty. They took steps to per
petuate that liberty by erecting a form OF
government they thought best calculated 70
do so. They chose the representative form
of democracy, and unless and until we for
mally change it We must be governed by ana
through it, 1t was not conceived in weak
ness nor of weaklings. 1t was born from
the womb Of war. When its rights are as
sailed or it's existence threatened the world
must see it standing forth as a worthy on
spring Of the fathers. In national crisis
the nation speaks, through its elected
leaders, and when it does its voice is the
voice OF all the people backed by every dol
lar and the life Of every man under It's nag
That is not "dynsstic policy'-that is the
true spirit of America. .
THOMAS F. FENNELL.
Elmira, " Y, April Ii, 1917.