The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-01-20
UNITED STATES IS NOT THE MORAL DEBTOR OF EURoE

Of all the nations engaged the the United States alone
had nothing do with its causes and OF all the winning NATIONS Inc
United States nothing from victory The causes OF 'he
distant from American HE THAN 'ie s''n' u "
from American shores.
sprang naturally Of the traditions the rHaes the apo
uacy and ntrges Europe Europe accustomed to ghg
such wars had ynaSes and governments which prepared ''
them armed them, and sought occasion for them
people of Europe had not brought about STATE OF
ent which them showed much willingness to do So
The people Europe they lived by military alliances Ihe
maintained great navies They i'll conflict with each
other pushing lands and taking over new territories
When nation which was the dangerous
it was another 1t was gest ambitious dangerous scheme
known after had been produced by FROM
these expensive schemes military alliances and ecrc treaties the
free The people of Europe either supported
tolerated scheme of rivalry threat and danger The RESPONSE
th but Americans could say neither year nor nay
The United could tell France Italy, Germany Austria
Russia Britain that armed claim jumpers would get into
did need to te them Their history told them that
of their armies and naves indicated that they Were pre-
pared for it.
They natural of their plans and
tons was war France Britain and Germany nearly had
North Africa Italy it with Turkey over North Africa
bound it with Russia the Balkans The
The produced expected to produce
II great
In this war the United States could by
cosng and placing mbargoes munitions and food
su 1T greeat fear the allies had that the German ee
citizenship would succeed stopping trade with
Europe The benevolent neutrality the United States all then
that the allies asked and they knew their salvation to be found
American industry What then necessity them is
regarded shame the United States Some Americans be-
Ginning believe that allies fighting for the United
that America Withholding its while made money by
selling goods to its defenders
1t nations duty avoid long as it possibly
the moral duty of avoid if be avoided
When for the United States could longer be avoided
opinion of the American government undertaken
regardless of money
The American army nwhat virtually great Of
fenve In that offensive which the final American
casualties 900 dead and nearly 100000 wounded That
sacrifice similar what the French made unsuccessful
payne offensive and what the British made the
Somme offensive which gigantic and deadly the
earlier years of the
When the the American army the
United States withdrew without asked in PREPARATIONS
foot of land taken compensaonthng other
These American sacrifices made in which the origin
and the from American participation
sponsbiy they had been found in the
fore history had been military effort by
so innocent of blame. 8
We hove living Americans will be reproach
by admitting into their minds for instant the thought the
United States Europes moral debtor Stacker its
and delinquent its ideals The these American
soldiers had for idea living of
them will that they little aid from Europe behalf of the
moral That moral advantage
Europe took of the danger to the United States. liz