ATIONS--FIRST SUBMARINE ACTIVITIES--THE LUSITANIA
OUTRAGE--EXCHANGE OF NOTES--UNITED STATES AROUSED--ROLE OF PASSIVE
ONLOOKER BECOMES IRKSOME--FIRST MODIFICATION OF PRINCIPLES OF WASHINGTON
AND MONROE--OUR DESTINY LOOMS.

August 4,1914, President Wilson proclaimed the neutrality of the United
States. A more consistent attempt to maintain that attitude was never
made by a nation. In an appeal addressed to the American people on
August 18th, the president implored the citizens to refrain from "taking
sides." Part of his utterance on that occasion was:

"We must be impartial in thought as well as in action, must put a
curb upon our sentiments as well as upon every transaction that
might be construed as a preference of one party to the struggle
before another.

"My thought is of America. I am speaking, I feel sure, the earnest
wish and purpose of every thoughtful American that this great
country of ours, which is, of course, the first in our thoughts and
in our hearts, should show herself in this time of peculiar trial a
nation fit beyond others to exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed
judgment, the dignity of self-control, the efficiency of
dispassionate action; a nation that neither sits in judgment upon
others, nor is disturbed in her own counsels, and which keeps
herself fit and free to do what is honest and disinterested and
truly serviceable for the peace of the world."

American poise had been somewhat disturbed over the treatment of
American tourists caught in Germany at the outbreak of the war. American
sentiment was openly agitated by the invasion of Belgium and the
insolent repudiation by Germany of her treaty obligations. The German
chancellor had referred to the treaty with Belgium as "a scrap of
paper." These things had created a suspicion in American minds, having
to do with what seemed Germany's real and ulterior object, but in the
main the people of this county accepted the president's appeal in the
spirit in which it was intended and tried to live up to it, which
attitude was kept to the very limit of human forbearance.

A few editors and public men, mostly opposed to the president
politically, thought we were carrying the principle of neutrality too
far; that the violation of Belgium was a crime against humanity in
general and that if we did not at least protest against it, we would be
guilty of national stultification if not dow