New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-02
The New Patriotism

It is the bOundcn duty OF the ke.
publican party to support every
public servant, from the PresIdent
down, in so far as he does good
and efficient work in waging the
war or helping wage the war, and
10 oppose him exactly to the cx.
tent of his failure to do such work.
From Colonel Roosepelt's Portland
speech.
Eight years ago Theodore Roosevelt
made a speech IN Kansas on "The New
Nationalism." 1t was prophetic. 1t re-
sponded to public need. Our govern
ment has now, in war time, been ma
tionalized far beyond the limits set for
naturalization in that Osawatomie ad-
dress.
Colonel Roosevelt might have used
"The New Patriotism" as title for his
speech last week at Portland, Me. 1t is
also prophetic. It responds to another
public need. 1t erects standard to
which virile Americans everywhere Will
gladly repair.
For the last year we have been living
in an atmosphere Of patriotism more or
less diluted and murky. Hundreds OF
thousands of intensely loyal Americans
have felt a vague sense of discomfort
and depression. But they have not !
known exactly what was the matter.
Our trouble is that we have been try
ing to make our patriotism Aaccid and
humble. We have been urged to narrow
sour loyalty-to give it to an individual
rather than to cause. We have been
asked to substitute "Our President, right
or wrong!" for "Our country, right or
wrong!"
That is a deadening thing to do. It
devitalizes patriotism-the old militant
patriotism which puts country above in
dividuals or parties or government,
which is critical and exacting as well as
ardent, and which can flourish only in
the clear, free air.
Colonel Roosevelt is doing splendid
service in trying to get us to broaden
out our conception of patriotism.
Why should we remain humble and
voiceless?
1t is not President Wilson's war.
1t is not the Democratic party's war.
The war belongs to all of us. Its con-
duct is proper subject Of every Amer1-
can citizens concern.
about war government. France has
had numerous ministries since 1914, in
spite of the fact that the French at the
outset formed sacred union Of parties,
pledged not to allow fractional consider
atoms to interfere with the prosecution
of the war. The British government has
undergone two congratulations in the
last three years.
Criticism of ineficiency in administra-
ton has not been halted for minute in
France or Great Britain. Patriotism in
those countries does not seek to erect
bombproofs for administrators who
fail. It demands results and compels
changes in ministers and policies. Other
wise how would Lloyd George have risen
to power in Great Britain or Clemen-
ceau in France?
The same spirit of alert, constructive
criticism is needed in the United States.
1t is needed to-day more than ever, be-
cause for the last twelve months our
people, out of scruples which do honor
to their emotionality rather than to their
intelligence, have refrained in large
measure from questioning the prescience
of those in whose hands the conduct of
the war has been placed.
That conduct should be questioned at
every point at which questioning it may
help US to win.
According to the theory of patriotism
which the public here has been labbily
accepting, a man or woman who protests
against ineficiency is likely to lose re-
spectability. He or she is at once ac-
cused Of giving aid and comfort to the
enemy"
Colonel Roosevelt has had the moral
courage tS challenge this emotional OBJ