New-York tribune., 1918-10-27
"HE capital of the United States
is probably at this moment of
- writing a seat of greater and

is probably at this moment of
- writing seat of greater and
more widespread power than was
ever Rome, or Carthage, or Thebes, or
Alexandria, or-shall we say-Berlin
The German Empire, which has meant
these many years to be the greatest en-
pire Of time, hangs feverishly and desper-
ately on the words that come from
Washington, and the rest of the world
looks there for counsel and decision
Present events have been composed in
an ascending scale ever since the days
of Chateau Thierry, but their back
ground has been shifted from the bat
tlefeld to the council chamber. The
combined millions of the Allied armies
have not been faltering, but Germany's
betrayal of weakness has not been alone
on the battlefield. The confirmation Of
it has existed in all her efforts to find
way out by the devious ways of lam
guagc. To understand adequately,
however, the quality of the scene in
Washington of this week, it is necessary
to understand the nature Of the ma
chinery which eliminates for the nation
in large and roomy mansion painted
white that sets in the. midst of a fair
sized and attractive park At times
like these there are three points of in
terest in Washington. One is the White
House; the other two are the War, State
and Navy Building, which sets comfort
ably apd solidly next to it on Pennsyl-
vanla Avenue, and the Capitol on its
majestic hill mile away. War and its
business call chiefly on these three
agencies of government, the executive.
the legislative and the active forces of
offence and defence, which are dipo-
matte as we'll as military and naval.
Opinion, which is the motive power
Of a democracy, has no limitations Put
on it in the halls of Congress. 1t is free,
the largess of political wealth. 1t rep
resonts, so far as Washington can rep
resent directly, the reflected attitude Of
the nation. But for authority, that
opinion which has been moulded and
composed by the nations delegated
power, it is necessary to go to the EXecu-
.ives spokesman, which is in this case
the Secretary of State. For compre-
hension of these various scenes there is
only one element lacking the journalist
whose labor is to pick up everywhere
The strands of feeling, opinion, reaction
and weave out of them coherent fabric
which will inform the waiting country
of the quality of the events that have
been taking place.
1t was Monday night that Washington
received the German reply to American
demands, a complicated denial Of all
the proved charges of brutality and a
pleading for further arrangements for
an armistice on the ground that the
German government was truly in the
hands of the people and Germany had
indeed become sweet and holy. Here are
some of the newspaper descriptions of
Nashlngton's reaction to the German
note. wv. Z. g." writes thus from
Washington to The Boston Tran
script;
The German reply to President Wilson'S
note of October II is received in Washing-
Ton with contempt and an Indifference that
extends almost to the nature of the reply
the President may make to it. 1t is taken for
granted in most quarters that the Pres-
aent, fguratively speaking, will throw the
herman missive in she wastcbasket and
refer its writer's 10 Field Marshal Foch.
Inc country is a unit for unconditional
surrender, but the White House has let
PASS two opportunities to demand that OF
'he German government and speculation
regarding his third note in the series
el'ner Will be suspended until 1t Is dis
Pa'ched or Will concern itself with conjcct-
u'e as to how near the Pres ident will come
70 meeting the stern popular demand. 1t
IS evident here that the government is cal
uiat'hg upon progressive disintegratlsn
III Icrmany which of itself will bring about
< crisis that will overthrow the Imperial
herman power and thus lead to peace In
"otSlng the President has uttered either