The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-24

avoidance, but in eager pursuit, of en-
tangling alliances? America, we are
assured by our former pacifists. now
become anemic altruists, wants Moth
ing, not a~dollar of the money which
we were forced to expend and whose
collection to the last penny Is war
ranted by law and custom, not even
such Inadequate compensation as
money can AFFORD TO the families OF
the innocent and unoffending men,
women and children who were MUIR
dered in cold blood upon the high seas.
No indemnities, we arc told with a
sternness almost implying that We and
not the fendish Huns are the real
criminals.
Cost OF the War.
do you appreciate what that means7
This war will have cost US thirty
billions OF dollars. Somebody must
pay IT, II wo waive our just claim
that huge sum will constitute our vol
untary contribution to the war fund of
Germany And 1t IL no trifie ReclS-
oning each as an Garner for only two
besides himself the annual payment
exacted from you who occupy this hall
tonight would exceed $4,000, and II
would continue to be drawn year after
year to the end of time from your
children and your children's children
And worse even than that, notice would
be given 10 the world that hereafter any
predatory Power might wage war
fare upon this magnanimous country
4 and be required, even II beaten, only
to divide the cost.
But We are told that Germany can
not pay! Cannot pay? With nine
tenths OF her productive labor under
arms she furnished seven billions 9
year for four years in her dastardly
attempt to conquer the world. Surely
in time of peace she can provide three
billions a year for fifty years. At any
rate she can and should be made e
try. And the Infamous scoundrel nov
living and plotting at ease in Holland
who. whether he gave the order OF
not, pinned the iron cross upon tn,
breast OF the captain who sank tn,
Lusitania, must be brought to the bal
of Justice and tried, convicted ant
hanged for the murder Of the Froh
mans. the Hubbards. the Pearsons an,
the Riddles whom Alfred Vanderbilt
vainly gave his life to save.
But it is not for any of thest
righteous purposes that we have gon,
to Paris. America wants nothing
wants nothing so badly that even he
Chief Magistrate HES himself acros
the sea to get It. Truly a marvellou
spectacle! Five American commits
sioners at tho great conference t
speak avowedly for the World, but
one voice is to be raised for thi
orphaned country the fact is yet I
be revealed. And yet, we are informed
their mission is not wholly pacific
They are TO fight To fight whom
Germany? Austria? Turkey? Nc
praise be to God, that task in finished
Whom then II not our allies, VIII
saved our country and our lives? An
for WHAT FOR an ideal-a gloriou
ideal; for a league, a mighty leagu
OF nations to enforce-what? Peace
No. To enforce war-war upon ever
people who refuse to bow to the edict
Of a elf-appointed tribunal
Inc declared purpose.
THAT Is the declared purpose, tn
sine qua non, OF this great free re
, public. who herself established IN
, divine right OF revolution, who herse
{ achieved her independence by force {
arms and who herself would be a suit
I ject colony to-day il such a league a
r she now proposes had existed whe
: the great bell in Philadelphia rang OF
3 tho knell OF despotisn upon this cor
r tinent from the Boring Sea to II
Strait OF Magellan.
! What. II he were here again 4
= night as in ls43. would Webster say
= this bewilderng adventure and TO le'
3 amazing undertaking? We do NJ
i need TO conjecture. We know. Til
r scheme of domination by associate
= Powers possesses no element OF no.
n city. A precisely similar alliance can
e into being during Websters lifetim
e II, too, was called holy. II, too, w;
e formed, we read, in the spirit OF fr'
y ternity. 10 protect religion. peace al
g justice and was pledged to take
= its sole guide the precepts OF tustic
christian charity and peace IT wa
we read further, the scheme OF
3 pietistic idealist' II. too. was leag'
e OF enforce war. and 1t did enforce wa
And this is what Daniel Webst'
standing in his place in tho House
Representatives and pleading &
e cause OF stricken Greece said OF tn
d league in words that ring as true {
/, day as then.
@ "'These doctrines he thundert
II are totally hostile TO the fundamen'
i principles of our Government. tn
l. are in direct contradiction. The pri
70 ciples Of good and evil are hardly mo
ID opposite. II these principles be trl
al then we are but In a state of rebelli
Ir or OF anarchy and arc tolerated amo
y civilized States because 1t has not
a been convenient to reduce us TO I
II true standard. There cam
ot be conceived a more fragrant violau
of public law or national Independent
1t 1.-THE avowed object OF such dc
u larations is to preserve the peace
st the world. But by what means is
= proposed to preserve this peace? Sil
es ply by bringing the power OF all &C
Id ernments to bear upon all subjec
lie There are, in short. no Ions
L TO be nations. There is to be an e
ID of all patriotism as a distinct nation
d. feeling.
but il it be true that there he
a after will be no Russian. Prussi
ne Austrian French nor even. which
er l will not believe. an English poll
s. | tbora will he | trust in God,