theodore roosevelt-第67章
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； that as the conflict grew more terrible in Europe and spread into Asia and Africa； we should be drawn into it； and that therefore we must make ready。 He seconded the plan of General Leonard Wood to organize a camp for volunteers at Plattsburg and other places； and what that plan accomplished in fitting American soldiers to meet and vanquish the Kaiser's best troops； has since been proved。 President Wilson； however； would not officially countenance any preparation which； so far as the public was allowed to know his reasons； might be taken by the Germans as an unfriendly act。 Finally； Roosevelt labored unceasingly to revive and make militant the ideals of true Americanism。
That the Germans accurately gauged that President Wilson would not sanction any downright vigorous action against them； was sufficiently proved on May 7； 1915； when German submarines torpedoed and sank； at two o'clock in the afternoon； the British passenger steamship Lusitania； eastward bound； a few miles south of the Point of Kinsale on the Irish coast。 With her went down nearly thirteen hundred persons； all of them non…belligerents and more than one hundred of them American men； women； and children。 This atrocious crime the Germans committed out of their stupid miscalculation of the motives which govern non…German peoples。 They thought that the British and Americans would be so terrorized that they would no longer dare to cross the ocean。 The effect was； of course； just the opposite。 A cry of horror swept over the civilized world； and swiftly upon it came a great demand for punishment and retribution。
Then was the moment for President Wilson to break off diplomatic relations with Germany。 The very day after the waters of the British Channel had closed over the innocent victims； President Wilson made an address in which he announced that 〃a nation may be too proud to fight。〃 The country gasped for breath when it read those words； which seemed to be the official statement of the President of the United States that foreign nations might out rage； insult； and degrade this nation with impunity； because； as the rabbit retires into its hole； so we would burrow deep into our pride and show neither resentment nor sense of honor。 As soon as possible； word came from the White House that； as the President's speech had been written before the sinking of the Lusitania； his remarks had no bearing on that atrocity。 Pride is a wonderful cloak for cowards； but it never saves them。 Perhaps the most amazing piece of impudence in Germany's long list was the formal visit described by the newspapers which the German Ambassador； Bernstorff； paid to Mr。 Bryan； the Secretaryof State； to present to our Government the formal condolence of Germany and him self at this painful happening。 Bernstorff； we know now； planned the sinking and gave the German Government notice by wireless just where the submarines could best destroy the Lusitania； on that Friday afternoon。
Ten days later； Mr。 Wilson sent a formal protest to Germany in which he recalled 〃the humane and enlightened attitude hitherto assumed by the Imperial German Government in matters of international right； and particularly in regard to the freedom of the seas〃； and he professed to have 〃learned to recognize the German views and the German influence in the field of international obligation as always engaged upon the side of justice and humanity。〃 If Mr。 Bryan had written this； no one would have been astonished； because Mr。 Bryan made no pretense of knowing even the rudimentary facts of history； but that President Wilson； by profession a historian； should laud； as being always engaged in justice and humanity； the nation which； under Frederick the Great； had stolen Silesia and dismembered Poland； and which； in his own lifetime； had garroted Denmark； had forced a wicked war on Austria； had trapped France by lies into another war and robbed her of Alsace…Lorraine； and had only recently wiped its hands； dripping with blood drawn from the Chinese； was amazing！ Small wonder if after that； the German hyphenates lifted up their heads arrogantly in this country； or that the Kaiser in Germany believed that the United States was a mere jelly…fish nation which would tolerate any enormity he might concoct。 This was the actual comfort President Wilson's message gave Germany。 The negative result was felt among the Allied nations which； struggling against the German Monster like Laocoon in the coils of the Python； took Mr。 Wilson's praise of Germany's imaginary love of justice and humanity as a death…warrant for themselves。 They could not believe that he who wrote such words； or the American people who swallowed them； could ever be roused to give succor to the Allies in their desperation。
Three years later I asked Roosevelt what he would have done； if he had been President in May； 1915。 He said； in substance； that； as soon as he had read in the New York newspaper* the advertisement which Bernstorff had inserted warning all American citizens from taking passage on the Lusitania； he would have sent for Bernstorff and asked him whether the advertisement was officially acknowledged by him。 Even Bernstorff； arch…liar that he was； could not have denied it。 〃I should then have sent to the Department of State to prepare his passports； I should have handed them to him and said； 'You will sail on the Lusitania yourself next Friday； an American guard will see you on board； and prevent your coming ashore。' The breaking off of diplomatic relations with Germany；〃 Roosevelt added； 〃would probably have meant war； and we were horribly unprepared。 But better war； than submission to a humiliation which no President of this country has ever before allowed； better war a thousand times； than to let the Germans go on really making war upon us at sea； and honeycombing the American people with plots on land； while our Government shamelessly lavishes praise on the criminal for his justice and humanity and virtually begs his pardon。〃
* The advertisement was printed in the New York Times of April 23； 1915。
Thus believed Roosevelt in the Lusitania crisis； and many others of us agreed with him。 The stopping of German intrigues here； the breaking…off of diplomatic relations； would have been of inestimable benefit to this country。 It would have caused every American to rally to the country's defense。 It would have forced the reluctant Administration to prepare a navy and an army。 It would have sifted the patriotic sheep from the sneaking and spying goats。 It would have brought immense comfort to the Allies and corresponding despondency to the Huns。 For Germany plunged into the war believing that England would remain neutral。 When England came in； to redeem her word of honor； Germany's frantic purpose was to have us keep neutral and supply her with food and munitions。 Had she known that there was any possibility of our actively joining the Allies； she would have hastened to make peace。 Our first troops could have reached France in the early spring of 1916。 They would not have been； of course； shock troops； but their presence in France would have been an assurance to the Allies that we were coming with all our force； and the Germans would soon have understood that this meant their doom。 By the summer of 1916； the war would have been over。
Think what this implies！ Two years and a half of fighting would never have taken place。 At least three million lives among the Allied armies would have been saved。 Russia would have been spared revolution； chaos； Bolshevism。 Some； at least； of the myriads of massacred Armenians would not have been slain。 Thousands of square miles of devastated territory would not have been spoiled。 A hundred billions of dollars for equipping and carrying on the war would never have been spent。 All this is not an idle dream； it is the calm statement of what would probably have happened if President Wilson； after the Lusitania outrage； had dared to break with Germany。 History will hold him accountable for those millions of lives sacrificed； for the unspeakable suffering which the people of the ravaged regions had to endure； for the dissolution of Russia； which threatened to throw down the bases of our civilization； and for the waste of incalculabl
