New-York tribune., 1918-01-01

not ashamed to call themselves Americans. !
But the decision was after all only Il {
beginning. In this grim world in which
we now live with all its agonies, with all
it's tragedies, the value Of the spoken word
has become next to nothing. If 1917 was
Il year of decision 1918 is to bc a year of
trial. In the months that are to come we
shall have to make good py deeds the
words we have spoken since, at last, we
resolved to play our part in the liberation
of the world Not all Of us, only a small
fraction of our millions will be able this
wear to perform their part upon the bat
tlcfclds of Europe, but something will be
asked of every American.
ever fine We shall not break a German
battalion or take a Prussian trench by the
finest coquencc we may employ. The de-
feat of Germany will be attained only by
the combined sacrifices Of all American
and children. In the great testing of
&ation which is the modern form of war
the victory must be spiritual before it can
be military. No nation can win which
does not have within its population mill
ions of men and women who. percciving
the issues which are at stake, willingly un-
hesitatingly. without hope of reward or
fear Of suffering, give that which they
have to give.
AS the devil tempted the fasting Christ
the German tempts the war-weary world
there are provinces and profits enough for
ALL, there is rest and end Of misery for
all, if only we will recognize the suprem-
acy of the Prussian doctrine, if only we
will renounce our war upon the doctrines
and the men who made the Belgian trag-
edy possible, who have marked their
march from one end of Europe to the
other with the blood Of innocent victims
and the ashes of the churches of the an
cient world.
In a large measure the deciding voice in
the months which are to come will rest
with the American people. Alone of all
the Allies we have still mistaken re-
sources. They are weary with their great
labors, we are fresh in the field. They
have suffered from almost incredible sacri-
fees ours have hardly begun. They will
fight on to the end, to the victory which
means liberty for us all, if only they see
in our faces the reflection of determined
spirit and the mark of resolved mind.
We are the reserves of civilization, we
bring with US the material weight to win
, but we must bring the moral weight, too.
A thousand confused voices are heard
now whispering and pleading for peace
urging that America, before she has begun
: to fight, shall lead the way to surrender
: that we shall betray the cause we have
e only now adopted. Those voices which as.
t sailed the ears but did not shake the
S heart of Abraham Lincoln are now utter.
k ing the same untruths, the same follies
i the same cowardice. There are those
t, among us who believe that casualty lis
|. is the greatest of human evils and battle
n escaped is the greatest of human blessings
II And there are those among us who be
Al leve that the men who made this war, tn
r government and the rulers who plunged
e Europe, mankind, into this tragedy, tn
10 men who murdered Belgium and ravishe
ID France, the men who for nearly four year
Lave violated every treaty, every conven
n ton, every doctrine of humanity, are no,
to suddenly become trustworthy; that wit
H. these men, whose hands are still bloody W
ne can strike hands and not transfer son,
n portion of the d-guilt. The fool VIII
ne would follow the Trotzkys, the dreame
T. who would follow the Bosheviki Of a
81 nations, the men who said before tn
of war came that all war was mpossbl
n the men who said when it came that W
had no part in it though our ow
ot children were murdered and those of OF
on fellow nations tortured without end--the
he voices are heard now clamoring for peac
ay We must not heed the voice of the TO
We or Of the knave, we must not listen to tt
or coward or to him for whom war is wickt