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As the months went on； however； it became clear to him that Mr。 Wilson was pursuing towards the European War the same policy of contradictions； of brief paroxysms of boldness； followed by long periods of lassitude； which had marked his conduct of our relations towards the Mexican bandits。 He saw only too well； also； into what ignoble depths this policy led us。 Magnificent France； throttled Belgium； England willing but not yet ready； devastated Serbia； looked to us for sympathy and help； and all the sympathy they got came from private persons in America； and of help there was none。 Meanwhile； the Germans undermined and gangrened the American people。 Every ship brought over their slyest and most unscrupulous propagandists； who cooperated with the despicable German professors and other agents already planted here； and opened the sewers of their doctrines。 Their spies began to go up and down the land； without check。 Count Bernstorff； the German Ambassador； assumed to play with the Administration at Washington as a cat might play with half a score of mice； feeling sure that he could devour them when he chose。 A European gentleman； who came from a neutral country； and called on Bernstorff in April； 1915； told me that when he asked the Ambassador how he got on with the United States； he replied： 〃Very well； indeed； we pay no attention to the Government； but go ahead and do what we please。〃 Within a fortnight the sinking of the Lusitania showed that Bernstorff had not boasted idly。
Roosevelt understood the harm which the German conspiracy was doing among our people； not only by polluting their ideals； but actually strengthening the coils which the propagandists had been winding； to strangle at the favorable moment American independence itself。 We discovered then that the process of Germanization had been going on secretly during twenty years。 Since England was the chief enemy in the way of German world domination； the German…Americans laid themselves out to render the English odious here。 And they worked to such good purpose that the legal officers of the Administration admonished the American people that the English； in holding up merchant vessels laden with cargoes for Germany； committed breaches against international law which were quite as heinous as the sinking by German submarines of ships laden with American non…combatants。 They magnified the loss of a cargo of perishable food and set it against the ferocious destruction of neutral human beings。 Senator Lodge； however； expressed the clear thought and right feeling of Americans when he said that we were more moved by the thought of the corpse of an innocent victim of the Hun submarines than by that of a bale of cotton。
These enormities； these sins of omission and commission； of which Roosevelt declared our Government guilty； amazed and exasperated him； and from the beginning of 1915 onward； he set himself three tasks。 He wished to expose and circumvent German machinations over here。 Next； he deemed it a pressing duty to rouse our country to the recognition that we must prepare at once for war。 He saw； as every other sensible person saw； 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