LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

AMERICA'S ADDRESS TO THE ALTJES.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THIC " SPEOTATOR.1

Sin,—Though many of the most prominent Americans have, since the beginning of the war, expressed very fully, and often very forcibly, the sentiment of this country favourable to the Allies, there has been

as yet no attempt to give more comprehensive and definite voice to the strong and preponderant sympathy of our people with your cause, • which we believe to be the cause of righteousness and of civilization. The "Address to the People of the Allied Nations,"- which is enclosed, is an attempt to make clear the-character and extent of that sympathy. The accompanying explanatory statement gives some account of the

inception of this movement, which dates back to the early weeks of

1915, and of the causes which led to its delay—a delay not in any way due to uncertainty as to the feeling. Indeed, at the very opening of the war the sympathy and indignation were so strong and so evident that further expression seemed unnecessary. We think that some extracts from the many letters from all parts of the United States which came to those in charge of the movement may perhaps be of interest to your readers as spontaneous expressions of the general sentiment. Very many were not content merely with signing, but wrote more fully to express their feeling, so that we have now in hand a large collec- tion of letters, from which the following are brief extracts. Many of the letters, indeed most, begin with such phrases as the following :— " I sign with my whole heart."

"I sign the Address with joy."

"I have signed with the utmost zeal and arepressement." "It gives me no little pleasure, and a distinct sense of a duty performed, to sign the Address."

And this from Indiana : "I feel pleased and honoured to be given the opportunity to sign this Address, which I do with all my heart. I should be glad to serve in whatever other way I can the cause for which it speaks.' From Indiana also comes this word : "I need scarcely say how profoundly I agree with the aim of the Address. I may add that, in my judgment, the pro-Ally feeling in this part of the country is growing stronger day by day."

The following also are characteristic of many of the letters :— " A splendid work. I have long felt it should be done?'

"lam very greatly obliged for your kindness in giving me the privilege. of joining with you in signing the Address. I am in hearty sympathy with it, and feel that we ought to have spoken long ago."

"I thank you for giving me a chance to express my-self publicly."

And this from Virginia : "I am sure that many of the subscribers, like myself, feel that the issues involved are the most tremendous which the cause of civilization has ever had to consider. Personally, I have long since made up my mind that we ought no longer to remain neutral."

And this one also from Virginia : "I sign the address with the greatest pleasure. I feel to the marrow of my bones that England is fighting our fight as well as hers in this titanic struggle."

Statements similar to the following are made repeatedly in these letters : "Glad to sign it. I could get many other signatures."

Another says : "I have never signed anything with greater enthu- siasm."

A prominent public man in one of our Northern New England States writes thus : "I thank you for the opportunity to register myself in favour of such an Address. Wherever I have been in this State, tho sentiment in support of the Allies is overwhelming. I think that we ought to have joined them months ago in the defence of the principle of 4,uman liberty, and in the addresses I have made I have so stated."

Perhaps one of the most significant letters, the publication of which he permits, is the following from former Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont, now a resident of California :—

"I have to thank you most sincerely for your letter giving me the most welcome opportunity to be one of the signers of the Address to the people of the Entente allied countries, stating affirmatively and positively the ground on which we stand in the awful war actively commenced by Germany against a small and comparatively weak neighbour that stood in her way to seize the capital of France and become the dictator of European affairs. So far she has failed, however, in the attempt which she still presses. She has violated nearly every established axiom of international law founded upon the fundamental principles of peaceful civilization, of justice, of truth, and of humanity. In the brave and steadfast defence which England, France, and smitten Belgium herself, and their allies are making, I cannot doubt they will 'emceed to the great satisfaction of, I feel sure, nine-tenths of the citizens - of the United States, though from the first the public attitude of our Government has, as I think, lacked frank and persistent condemnation of the many shocking inhumanities deliberately committed by the armed forces of the aggressor, and defended by the Governments of the aggressive countries. So I commit myself unreservedly to the sentiments expressed in the Address. I think the sooner it is made public and sent widely the better. You are at liberty to use my remarks whenever you please."

Of course, in asking for signatures there were found very many who were unwilling to sign. It is significant, however, that among all those to whom the invitation was sent, who were selected solely on the ground of their prominent position in their several communities and not because those responsible for the Address had any know- ledge of their views, only three expressed themselves as pronouncedly pro-German. There were possibly a dozen others who would probably describe their own sentiments as neutraL All of the remaining letters, it is very striking to note, express firmly their sympathy with the Allies, but give various reasons for not signing the Address. Sometimes it is a single clause which is objected to. One objected to the Address because it was not strong enough, and so refused to sign. Some of those who did sign expressed a wish that it had been stronger. Others there were, but these were very few, who objected to some of its phrases as exaggerated. Most, however, expressed cordial satisfaction with its terms. The following quotations will indicate the differing points of view :— A former Governor of one of our States says : "Although I cordially endorse the views, I have not signed, because I doubt the advisability of the Address. If the Allies are fighting the battle of civilization and humanity, then we ought to be doing something else besides signing a statement of our sympathy." A prominent lawyer says: I am heartily in accord with the senti- ments expressed, but I fear it might be looked upon as an academic, if not a somewhat illusory, proclamation."

Characteristic of the attitude of those who do not sign because of their official position are the following :— " I am in full and hearty accord with the sentiments. If I could sign in my individual capacity, I should not hesitate. I believe every word, and am glad the Address is to be sent."

A clergyman in a Western State writes : "I agree with all these sentiments, but I cannot sign because many of my church are Germans and do not see the truth yet."

Still another, a public official : "My sympathies are intensely with the Allies. They seem to me to be fighting our battles almost as much as their own. Notwithstanding this, as head of a public institution,

I do not feel at liberty to sign.'

Some questioned the usefulness of such a manifesto :— " My views are in full accord with the Address ; nevertheless, I cannot convince myself of the wisdom of making them public," writes one. Still another says : "While I sympathize with its purpose, I question whether in the present condition of our international relations it is wise or proper for a group of men to do what the Government has refrained from doing. No one is more bitterly hostile to Germany than I am."

Quite a number did not sign for fear of embarrassing the President. One such writes :— " I am heartily in sympathy with the Allies, but in view of the very strong appeal of the President urging our citizens to be strictly neutral, I believe it will be unwise to issue the Address."

But already too much, perhaps, has been quoted—enough, we hope, to convince your readers of the overwhelming and strong sympathy of our people. One incident which came to our knowledge seems worth recounting. Former President Angell, of the University of Michigan, was seriously ill at the time the Address reached him, but asked to have the Address itself and the invitation to sign whisk accompanied it read to him. One of those present wrote to us that he said : "I sign with my whole souL" It adds a pathetic interest to this that President Angell has since passed away.—Wo are, Sir, he.,

MORTON PRTNCE.