The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-07
Isolation of America?

II is pleasing to have the good opinion
of men of light and leading in foreign
countries regarding the powerful part
which the United States will play in the
war. But let MS beware of the tempta
ton to recline in careless complacency
when we are told that the United States
is destined TO be the deciding factor in
the world war, or that Americas effort
at the opening of the new year is the
hope of the world. The latter saying
may be true at the moment, but If the
former is TO be true, we must make II so
by our most resolute and vigorous action
az nation Ii is essential that we
should brace up rather than relax And
il is bracing to look the difficulties in the
face, acknowledging and measuring them
fully, and planning how they shall be
overcome. The diatory proceedings of
our military authorities in the last nine
months have not brought results of
which we can be proud. They leave us
dependent on the Woolwich arsenal for
heavy guns and on the Creuzot works for
field artillery.
In course of time we shall get our men
and our guns and our ships, but. as a
friendly English critic remarks, while
we are preparing great armies, the enemy
is finding new armies now, finding them
on the Russian fighting line, and calcu-
lating to anticipate America on the
Franco Belgian front. This makes the
harder for the allies. They have
to hold on against increasing forces until
their position shall be made secure, as
they trust it will, by the arrival of the
American army. What if it arrive too
late? We cannot believe that it will,
but the merest hint of the possibility
should evoke an energy of preparation
that would make ii impossible. Miser-
ible indeed would be the situation OF the
[ nited States If we let the European de
tenders of liberty be beaten for want of
)ur aid Our country would then stand
alone, for attack by the victorious en-
my. Having virtually deserted our
friends in their hour of need. we should |
ind ourselves as lonely as if they had |
deserted us by suddenly making peace on
heir own account.
This may well remind us that nothing |
ould be more dangerous to the cause of I
democracy in the world than the making |
i peace with Germany while she Is
nrepentdUt. IN one OF MS dIllCicS III |
he London Daily Mail. that able observ-
r of international affairs, Mr.. Lovat
fraser, declares that peace with Germany
/ this time would mean the permanent
of millions, the eventual
of the British empire. the dis
ppearance of independent Belgium, the
uin of France, the coercion of Italy, the
xtinction of Serbia, the Illustration of
'olish hopes, the final subordination of
ussia, the extension of German domi-
alton throughout the east, the apotheo-
Is of Prussian militarism, and "the $50
,tion of the United States as the last
sfuge of the worlds liberties" Admit
ng that this would be or might be, let
5 make sure that it shall not be. Amer
a will prove true to her comrades; they
ill prove true to her. We trust that
cry soon she will get beyond the stage
laundering preparation, through which
ley also had to pass and that there will
2 no isolation for any, but perfect unity
purpose and power for the winning of
lie Boston Herald.