The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-29
SENTIMENTAL JONATHAN.
His Plunge Into War Not the Act OF
q Money Grubber.

His Plunge Into War Not the ACT OF
. Money Grubber.
To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-SI: Two
editorial articles In THE SUN early IN
September touch a matter that mas
been much in my mind since we entered
the war. 1t is. or was, a common Euro
pean view that we were nation OF
shopkeepers, mere money grubbers, de-
void Of culture and worthy ideals. In
some ways our culture has been open TO
criticism. Compared to French. 1tal-
ians and japanese, we have lacked
refinement. We have no manners, and
especially no manner. These peoples
have seen in us much that seemed hard
and crude. They have seen truly and
correctly. In the sense implied we have
a certain hardness and crudeness. But
we have nothing to be ashamed of. Our
manners need mending, but this will
come in time. In the meantime we are
entitled to our own Quiddlty. We are
Americana, not French or English or
Japanese. We see things in other peo-
pies to criticise when It comes to that.
Our crudeness Is simply what belongs
to virile people breaking out a path
Of It's own In a new world. But that we
are only money grubbers is false. 1t Is
probably nearer the truth to say that
we are the most idealistic and sentiment
tai people in the world. For a sentiment
We went to war with England and set
up a Government Of our own. For a sem
timent we fought the civil war. For a
sentiment we fought with Spain to free
Cuba. For a sentiment we are in this
war.
As a mere matter of figures It is true.
what La Toilette and Bryan said, that
We were not justified In going to war.
Compared with what we will lose in the
war, In blood and treasure. our losses
in staying out we're as nothing. But
back Of this was something else, some
thing different, imponderable. not to be
expressed in terms of arithmetic. I do
not think that we had any fear Of Ger
many, Of German invasion, or German
this or German that. I think this Is
largely bunk. q pretence to cover UP
something better. namely. a sentiment.
for like most practical people, we are shy
Of appearing sentimental and must de-
lude ourselves with practical" pur-
pose. AS Emerson says, we are wiser
than we know also. think, better than
we pretend. We lower our actions for
fear Of cant. But our actions in all our
wars speak better than words So that,
when the question was put up to us, Is
1t better for US to endure slight losses
with dishonor and hurt Of conscience
than staggering losses with honor and a
Ill arv q
thunderous Mol
No spiked helmets were on our soil.
It was open for us to pass by on the
other side. We could easily have gone
the other way. reaping stupendous ben
efits in war profits. But just for a name.
just for some scraps Of paper. we
passed all this by, wrote Off the profit"
side of the ledger and opened up a stu
pendous Toss account taking upon
our shoulders the most staggering bur-
den of history.
Why did We do It? There was no
compulsion. No one threatened us II We
did not; the only threat was II we did.
We shouldered the threats and the bur-
den. consciously. deliberately. voluntarily.
We said, There lies our path, clear as
the MONDAY sun, and we bowed our
backs to the burden and took the path
Of honor. Not in any spirit of vain
glory, but as q simple and sober fact. I
do not think history affords any finer
spectacle. nor one that gives greater
assurance of the strength, vigor and per-
manence of democratic institutions. 1t
Is concrete demonstration to the world
that humanity Is capable of self-govern-
ment, and that that Government is
strongest which Is strongest in the
hearts of the people.
When I saw our young men coming
from the forge. the factory, the farm,
the humble home and the mansion, In
obedience to law voluntarily imposed
when I saw these homes giving up their
youth in obedience TO this law: when /
saw the millions of this country, each
taking up his or her self-imposed bur-
den; when I saw the people everywhere
yield cheerful obedience to reasonable re.
quests. not because there was any law
or compulsion about 1t but because II
was the proper thing to do /; when I saw
on every hand the welded and common
purpose of the people to carry through
az whatever cost what their Judgment
and their belief presented to them as a
duty. 1t was sight that gave me pause
and many thoughts. thoughts that
reach down to the depths and are not
often stirred. I had a feeling of proud
exultation. I said. Our Government Is
not lie. not thing of brag and bom-
bast. but a tremendous vital reality. II
affected me to see how sound and honest
the people are when brought to the
stern test. The thing is there. no lie, OF
sham or empty simulacrum, the ideal
that is our Government.
Let those in power be careful how
they tamper with this thing!
AMERICAN.