walks like a man" to disregard contemptuously the neutrality
of Persia in arranging spheres of influence, exactly as Japan, another
ally, is contemptuously disregarding the neutrality of China, the new
"republic" we were in such haste to recognize that we had to use the
cable. And what about Korea? It is a Japanese province in contravention
of the most solemn guarantees of its integrity.

Leaving aside for the moment certain considerations like these, and they
might easily be indefinitely amplified, which should compel Americans to
unbiased consideration for others and preclude a dangerous partiality,
let us ask ourselves how in the event of mediation we could be an
impartial pacificator, behaving as we have hitherto done. The attitude
of our Government has been strictly neutral, neutral to the verge of
utter self-abnegation; and, as some regard it, timidity.

But rock-fast as any democratic magistrate may be, public opinion must
and does influence him. Rightly or wrongly his agents would be even more
completely dominated, and rightly or wrongly they would be suspect in
view of our terrific partisanship on both sides since the commencement
of hostilities.

The efficiency of Government organs in "producing the goods," the
terrific power of organization on one side and mass on the other, have
been considered a menace to world equilibrium.

Whichever way the decision falls, the scrutiny of Europe will be turned
to us. Unless observation and instinct be utterly at fault, we have for
more than a decade been, after Germany, the worst-hated nation of all
that are foremost.

It is pre-eminently our affair to mind our own business, as others have
minded theirs. Without cessation of noise and fury in America this is
impossible.

Indeed, our emotional storms have already furnished proof of how we are
incapacitated from either enforcing our rights as neutrals or seizing by
the forelock the opportunity afforded to us as neutrals and from
enjoying the unquestioned privileges of neutrality.

It is not altogether edifying to think that the close of the European
struggle, be it long or short, will probably find our ocean commerce
substantially where it was at the beginning, and that conflicts which
were not of our making will have been fought out before we are able to
secure our share of the world markets. Apparently the leaders in
commerce, industry, and trade, like the lawmakers and administrators,
are paralyzed by the imperat