THE UNITED STATES NOT A “TENDERFOOT”
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.