The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1915. APEACE-AT-ANY-PRICE PRESIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVIII, Issue 288, 14 May 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1915. APEACE-AT-ANY-PRICE PRESIDENT.

Hitherto America lias held her head high among Uic nations of the, earth. A land of millionaires and industrial magnates, hilt., alas! also a land of graft and trusts. The United States were founded and v.'elded together by means of ttie triumph of the poliey to protect the weak against the strong, while the Stars and Stripes are regarded as the embodiment of liberty, if not of equality and fraternity. Hut how are the mighty fallen? The first supreme crisis that has arisen in international affairs has shattered the flimsy idol, and trailed the Flag of Liberty in the dust. It is America's misfortune at this epoch-making period to have a wobbly, peaee-at-any-priee President, who has proved totally incapable of protecting the national honor, and when smitten on one cheek is prepared to offer the other to the smiter. How keenly the right-minded section of the citizens of the United States must feel the degradation caused by the obstinate anil imbecile policy of the head of the Union, "tvho has totally failed to recognise the first and highest duties of his position. He can calmly see. Americans murdered by a. foreign Power without raising a hand to avenge their assassination. Instead, lie delivers an unctuous address on the "healing influence of peace," and the. existence of a pride so superlative that it is too proud to fight, while he puts forward the doctrine that there is 110 need io convince others by force. Anything more quixotic it is difficult to conceive. There must be a serious kink in Dr. Wilson's anatomy, or he could not give utterance to such despicable sentiments. Are not the lives of the citizens over whom he presides worth the protection that in any other country would be given without question? Dr. Wilson can prate volubly about the true goal of citizenship being loyalty to the conntry adopted, though it does not seem to occur to him that such loyalty carries with it 110 protection such as the citizens of every free country have a right to demand. What will Germany care for such political pap? There is only one way of convincing the Teutonic wild beasts, and that is force— applied hot and strong. It seems almost impossible that the action of one man could have so lowered America in the eyes of the world. Tt is a sorry exhibition of downright political cowardice. Dr. Wilson had the grandest opportunity that, has ever been presented to any President of the United States for demonstrating tlie greatness of the nation and its ability to take action worthy of its recognised importance in the affairs of the world. As to addressing a "stern note'' to fhrniany, telling her that she must be aood in „i , K ,t. M ,„,i „ ny Inoro Americans to Davy Jones's locker, anyone can imagine what effect such a lnps . sage would have on the saintly Fntherlanilers—l lie disciples of piracy, murder, h'-d, rapine, and poison. As well place a lamb before a hungry tiger, with an injunction to the beast of prey to treat < the lamb kindly. 'Apparently President Wilson's idea 0 f neutrality is to do , nothing, no matter what the extent of . . -c j. i; iC jaovuiL'Mj i

worm will turn, but Dr. Wilson stands meekly still, and gazes with inhuman stoicism on tlic murder of ins countrymen, merely saving: "Please, don't do it again." How refreshing to turn to his predecessor's vigorous denunciation of Dr. Wilson's "absurd exaltation of lieace over righteousness which lias brought the United States into contempt before the whole world." Will nothing movo President Wilson? Apparently not; but if tho people of the ("nited States, whom he has exposed to t.lie deepest acorn, have the least desire to rehabilitate their country in the eves of the world they should certainly apply to flic '1 'resilient a dose uf that force from which he shrinks like a whipped dog.