The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1915. THE LOVE OF DOLLARS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 73, 29 March 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1915. THE LOVE OF DOLLARS.

The action of President Wilson with regard to British restriction of neutral trade with Germany, has not raised him in the world’s respect, and many leading American journals are outspokenly frank in their indignation the policy ot the United States at this juncture should show more regard for dollars than for humanity. The New York Outlook went so far as to in its issue of January 6th:—“When wo had an opportunity to protest with regard to the violation of the Hague Convention concerning neutral territory, we held our peace, -but now, when questions of American commerce arise, we protest. Belgium suffered, and we said nothing, our trade suffers, and we speak. On questions of honour and oligation we keep silence; we raise our voice only when dollars are involved. And this matter is more disturbing because the only protest that wo launch is against those who are fighting our battle for liberty and democracy. To those who regard their nation’s honour as important as its material interests this incident brings some sense of humiliation, and it brings disappointment to those,who felt that they had reason to expect from the present Administration an exhibition of idealism.” A week later the New York Independent gives the utmost prominence in special type to an editorial statement by Mr Hamilton Holt. “Plumes of fire,” he says “are drop--ped from the clouds on undefended | towns and cities. The United States is silent. Deadly mines are strewn' on ( the high seas. The United States is , silent. Buildings dedicated to religion, art, ocience and charity are raxed to the ground. The United States is silent. Enormous fines, far in excess of military necessities, are levied on ravaged cities. The United States is silent. Seven millions ' stand emaciate in Belgium. The United States is silent. The Hague Conventions are thrown into the scrap basket. The United States is silent. But—The dollars of American trade are threatened. And the United States .protests. It is the duty of the United States to protect the commercial rights of her citizens. But it is also the duty of the United States to protect the civilisation of the world. Above nil nations is humanity.” Some American citizens at least must think that their great nation is suffering

deep humiliation in the attitude over the war. What steps will President Wilson take now, we wonder, in answer to Mexico’s latest insult to the American flag? A leading English merchant writing to a friend in New Zealand the other day touches on the qspect of America’s strange attitude in the following pregnant words: “In my two trips to the United States I found all the thoughtful people heart and soul for us, but most unfortunately tli© narrow margin of votes by which party victory is won and held causes each party to pander to the German-Trish vote by twisting the British Lion’s tail. They make no protest against the Germans’ violation of every principle agreed to at the Hague Convention, although it was and is the clear duty of the most powerful signatory remaining neutral to enter a most emphatic protest. They only protest against our exercise of the same rights which they have used during their wars. We are fighting for the United States after ourselves. for if we go under, they would suffer next at the hands of the Ger--1 mans. If the United States had a Government of statesmen instead of politicians they would bear in mind that the danger of war with Japan within three years is as insistently real for them as the German peril was for us three years ago.”