Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-09-28

Genuine Curiosity Concerning Rca-
sons for Surprising Expression in
Favor OF Accepting Austrian Pro
posal-Concern Felt as to How Far
1t Reflects Certain Elements in
Public Opinion.
44...s~
BY David Lawrence.
Copyright, 1918, by Now York Eve
ming Post, Inc.)
Washington, Sept. 19.-No single
editorial in an American newspaper
since the European war began has
had such q profoundly curious effect
in the national capital as tho out
spoken expression by The New York
Times in favor of adopting the Aus
tran suggestion for an "unbinding
conference" with tho allies OH peace
terms.
President Wilson's reply passed off
with the usual flood of messages from
Republican as we'll rs Democratic
leaders and constituencies, but there
appears to be no abatement in in
terest here as to the reasons which
prompted so powerful newspaper
as the Times to follow the course
that it did last Monday. It still is the
talk of the town, and anybody who
knows anything about newspapers or
their policies finds himself buttonhol-
ed everywhere by government officials
high and low. Ill Of whom want to
know just what was the probable oc
casion for the view taken or what
1T may represent.
In Il sense it is Il tribute to the tire
mendous influence which most people
hn hn1;
York Times has exercised not mere
~ with the public opinion Of the
United States but with the leading
Journals of the allied countries. In
another sense it is Il recognition Of
the fact that the American ncwspa-
pcrs arc the single medium of ex-
preston which the people have for
telling the government their wishes
from day to day in way that will
simultaneously reach all persons in
authority. And precisely because the
view Of the New York Times Is at
variance with what 1t had been con
fidontly expected hero would DO the
attitude Of that newspaper, there is a
genuine curiosity concerning the psy
chology of the Times editorial coun
Gil.
LIKE LANDSDOWNEs VIEWS. q.
Several suggestions and theories arc
advanced and 1t Is interesting TO note
that the majority OF them are TO the
effect that the Times editorial repre-
SentS simply an honest difference Of
oDin1on--anothcr way Of looking ut
the world war from that which our
own newspapers have been so unami-
mously proclaiming and view more
In lillc with the ideas expressed by
Iord Lansdowne to the surprise Of
4 the British -"blic in his famous plea
for definition Of peace terms on the
ground that the war was becoming
terribly destructive.
Those who are Interested DSsa, IN
sustaining the morale OF our own
people as we'll as the morale of the
allied countries, especially in rela-
ton to our own stimulus OF those
warworn countries do not pass by
such an editorial ns that of the
ilmcs with tho comment
that IT was simply mistake OF the
day. They are apt on the contrary to
view 1t as the expression in public
or what sometimes Is heard in the
grumbling private conversations of
those who are inclined to look at the
tremendous material waste and dc.
struction OF property the economic
losses and the immense subtraction
OF human life involved in the war.
England and France have had to com
Dat this species of war-weariness and
1t cannot be done by mere abuse or
pronunciation. It can be done effect
1Vcly here as abroad only by iteration
ana reltcration of the goal for which
America is striving in her crusade
Tor democracy. 1t is the old story Of
1dcalism. There have been abroad
two separate influences for peace the
paclllsts who abhor All war and be
neVe the same object can be obtain
cd by peace by negotiation and the
use OF moral force as by the prolong
cd cXertion of physical force; and the
matcr!nlis!s who are tired OF the war
ana its exhaustive process and who
argue that what will be gained will
not be commensurate with what will
be lost in property and human life.
WARS BURDENS REALIZED.
80 far as official Washington ana
the government of the United States
10 ~"A.cihe"' liiolc HcFoi WIS tlIlc
when the tremendous sacrifices and
losses involved We're not truly APP
proXimated. President Wilson him
self who cast the die in his famous
war message knew in April 1917,
what it would be necessary for Ameri
ca to sacrifice in order to make the
world really safe for democracy. He
knew because he had been watching
the European war infinitely through
scores Of confidential reports.
And while the president is just as
anxious as he was in the days that
he was accused OF being a "pacifists
at heart" to save America from need
less loss OF life or property his utter
anccs in public as we'll as Inconversa
tion with public men who have inter
viewed him, mako # clear that TO