"OUR ANSWER TO GERMANY"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2303, 10 November 1914, Page 7

"OUR ANSWER TO GERMANY"

PLAIN STATEMENT BY "NEW • YORK TBIES." : The following , leading artiole, • whioh is taken from tho "New York Times" of September 8, is a fair sample of the best American opinion on the rights of •the war:— . In our Declaration of Independence wi> said that "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind" required us to declare the causes which impelled us to dissojve the political bands that united iU3 with the Mother Country. To prove ' the justice of our cause >thd Declaration said: "Let facts be submitted to a candid world." Germany, through her men of "light and' leading,'.', has appealed' for the sympathy and the. moral support of the, people of the United States. We haVe given our answer. It responds to their wish, for thay asked our opinion; it does, not respond to their hope, Bince we are unable to give them our sympathy or accord them • our moral support. ' The answer has been given through the, innumerable voices of public opinion. ; We have told the Germans that in'our judgment Austria was unreasonably harsh and provocative in her demands upon Servia; that we have a profound conviction that their great Emperor was guilty of a wrong against civilisation in supporting the Austrian demands and the Austrian course of actionthat he was wrong again in, withholding assent from the peaceful proposals of Sir Edward Grey; in which • France, Italy, and Russia joined; that '! it was a monstrous wrong to 'send the German troops across tlhe Belgian frontier ; and that, inasmuch as Great Britain, France, and Russia have taken up : arms in defence of political ideals which have our approval against autooratio , and militarist theories and designs i whioh we hold in abhorrence, the sym- : pathy and,moral support we deny to i Germany and to Austria are freely j given to the Allies. This is l the answer ! we make to Germany. It expresses the . beliefs and the feelings of the whole ] American people, save only some of ■ those whose judgment is subject to the natural influence of the ties of kin- ; dred. • • '

Since the Germans hare asked for our opinion we must' suppose that ' they value it. It is a reasoned opinion, altogether without prejudice, because for the German people we have, the highest esteem and respect. Is it too much to hope that the judgment of this groat people may 'have some weight in Germany P The full effect of what we say and feel cannot be expected—it is too late. The clash of anus, of course, ■ drowns the voice of friendly counsel. But may we not hope that some, at least, of the great minds of Germany, th© minds of men who are not wholly subdued to the terrible ideals of militarism, may be persuaded to re-exam-ine the Gorman course of actjon and to inquire afresh into the justice of the causes for which'slie is at war?- That the progress of a war in which, so many millions are' engaged will be influenced by American public opinion is quite too muoli to . hope for. But as the warring forces approach the end of the bloody arbitrament., and when the . varying fortunes of war have brought the probable decision clearly into view, we may reasonably hope that the opinions we hold and have given will exert an influence that will hasten the advent of poace, peace without harsh conditions, peace that will bo just and lasting.