New-York tribune., 1918-06-04
It Coils Again


selves, with feeling Of limited satisfac-
tion, this: "Whatever else may happen,
Hearst has been frightened into an atti-
tude of patriotism. That much has been
accomplished"
We were wrong.
Having been moved by public indigna-
ton, by the fall in his circulation and
by fear of the Espionage Act
To stop his attacks upon the Allies,
especially England;
To shout for the war;
To write and print his own prayers
for victory in place Of the one deleted
from the Presidents Memorial Day
Proclamation;
To display the flag in colors on his
front page;
To burn incense at the feet of the gov
ernment, and,
To lock up the japanese bogie with
which he sought to incline the thoughts
of his readers toward an all-white alli-
ance, including the Germans, against an
all-yellow peril
Having thus dragged the flag across
his sinuous trail to put vengeance off the
scent, he coils and strikes again.
How?
Ask yourself what a German propa-
gandist in the guise of an American could
90 after he has been partially uncamou-
f1aged in his seditious work, and has been
able to escape extinction only by pub
llcly embracing the war. What could he
think of to write, under blatant pro-
testat1ons of loyalty, that would covertly
serve the enemy? There are very few
things he could say without risk to him
self and his cause. We can think of
three, namely:
One: Appeal to class hatred in Amer
lea under pretence of coming out for
the Russian Bolshevik
Two: Attack capitalism in this
country.
Three: Suggest that President Will
son is in sympathy with the Bolsheviki.
All of this Hearst does in an editorial
entitled "It Would Be Wise to Cease
Sneering at the Bolsheviki."
This editorial was printed yesterday in
"The New York American" It begins
with the argument that the Allies blum
dered IN misunderstanding the Russian
revolution and the Bolsheviki and runs
into a eulogy OF Lenfne and Trotzky,
saying:
"Had we known the true character of
the Russian revolution, had we known the
true character of Trotzky and Lenine.
and OF the other distinguished Russian
radical leaders, would never have
sent Root to head the American mission"
By using the name of Elihu Root to
symbolic everything the Bolsheviki hate
IN this country the writer subtly touches
all sides Of class prejudice by means of
the two following subtly devised para
graphs:
New York was the worst place in
which a Russian Bolshevik could find
anything respectable in American de-
mocracy during those reactionary days
which permitted Elihu Root to enjoy any
political power. Thank heaven, it is diff
ferent In New York City to-day But II
was the New York of Elihu Root that
Trotzky came to, and it was from New
York, under those conditions, that Trotz-
ky received his impressions of America.
Trotzky, student of public affairs scholar
writer democrat, knew Root, knew his
corporation record, knew how he was the
hired man of those who hated democracy
in America.
Imagine, then, how he and his friends
must have felt when the American mis-
sion landed in Russia, headed by this
man Root, to ask the Russians, now un-
der the leadership of Trotzky and his
political associates, to put confidence in
American democracy represented by
Root!"
The pious sentence, "Thank heaven. it
is different in New York City to-day" is
obviously protective. 1t creates pre-
tence that the matter is historical, and.
therefore, "safe." Rose Pastor Stokes
has been convicted for attacking the ex-
listing social order in war time. Mr..
Hearst attacks, as the "hired man of
those who hated democracy in America"
the one who was sent by President VIII
son at the head Of the American mission
to Russia!
1t was terrible mistake" SAYS
Hearst, to send Root to- Russia. How
ever. President Wilson, who appointed
him, is not to be censured Hearst does
not dare now to attack the President.
Besides, he can use him in another way.
He Identifies him with the Bolsheviki.
president Wilson," says the editorial.
"was the first public official and one of
the first Americans in any important
capacity who saw the real situation in
Russia" Then it quotes from the Pres
ident's address to Congress, January s,
as follows:
MParlaus haua haan 4.