PRESIDENT WILSON ON AMERICAN PATRIOTISM. rTo THE EDITOR or THE
"SPEOTATOE."1 SIR,—As an American citizen, I am moved to say that I think the reported utterance of the President of the United States, on the occasion of a recent address to a body of women known as the Daughters of the American Revolution, will be regretted by the best American people. The sentiment embodied in the exhortation to stand for America "first, last, and all the time," with no qualifying considerations of inter- national obligations, or the mutual well-being of nations, is an ignoble one. The narrow and selfish type of patriotism, to which appeal is made, has wrought vast mischief in American character, and it is this sort of patriotism that has shaped the policy of the United States Government in relation to the war. The President speaks of the " cause of humanity " as if it had to be safeguarded by America for the rest of the world ; but how is such a cause likely to be safeguarded by a people who make it a principle to consider themselves first, last, and all he time P Happily, the best people in America are equal to the best in the world, and it is to be hoped that the best may yet prevail. Americans have done, and are doing, a great deal for European sufferers from the German wickedness, but moral support from the Government—which is the least that ought to have been given from the start—would be worth more than all the oharities.—I am, Sir, N., CHARLES H. MOORE.
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