In the old days when the “bad man” flourished on our western frontier
the gunmen would occasionally suspend their slaughter of each other to
have fun with a “tenderfoot.” An inoffensive easterner landing from the
stage would be surrounded by a crowd and would suddenly receive from
some one in the crowd an order to dance. If he remonstrated or failed to
comply instantly with the demand, a revolver bullet would strike close
to his feet, the order would be reiterated, and the poor fellow would be
compelled to lift his feet and gyrate to the crash of bullets from a
“45” in the hands of a noted desperado, until he was exhausted.
It begins to look as if some of the belligerent powers of Europe would
like to make us dance to the crash of diplomatic notes and unjustifiable
war measures. In any street row it is usually the innocent bystander
that suffers most, and the belligerents evidently don’t care how much
this neutral nation may suffer if they can have their own way.
But if we are not mistaken in our guess, Uncle Sam will distinctively
and decisively decline to play the rôle of “tenderfoot” for the
amusement or profit of European gunmen. The people of this nation will
insist upon full recognition of their rights as neutrals—and not only
that, but on their privilege to carry on their accustomed activities of
travel, trade and industry in accordance with the universally recognized
rules of international law. In so far as the administration at
Washington insists upon the assertion and exercise of these rights and
privileges, in so far will it be backed up by the public sentiment of
the nation. In so far as it falls short of maintaining the full height
of the dignity of American manhood, in so far will it fall short of its
duty and the demands of our intelligent and responsible citizenship.
The people of this country do not want war with any of the belligerent
nations, nor do they expect that we will be drawn into the war by the
manly assertion of our rights. But dreadful as war is, they would prefer
it to seeing our country and our flag made a ridiculous spectacle of
pusillanimity and helplessness.
On the other hand, no reasonable citizen wants our government to be
bumptious and insulting, or to invite reprisals by exceeding the measure
of our just demands. Nor is it likely that a firm and reasonable
attitude assumed by the Washington administration will draw us into the
war. It is not at all probable that any of the great powers arrayed
against each other on European battle fields or the high seas want war
with the United States now. On the contrary, any one of them would
undoubtedly make sacrifices to avoid it. We do not, however, ask of any
of them any sacrifice beyond the observance of the recognized rules of
international law and the dictates of humanity. If any nation would
declare war against us because we call a halt upon its savagery so far
as our own citizens are concerned, we could fight with a good conscience
and with a confident trust in the God of justice and mercy.
The United States is not called upon to go to war to protect any of the
nations of the Eastern Hemisphere, or the rights and immunities of their
citizens. We are not called upon to take sides in the conflict now
raging; but we are called upon to protect our own citizens in their
lives, their immunities and their world-rights, and if we fall below the
measure of this duty history will judge us as a pitiful and decadent
race.