itself. Germans destroyed ships, ammunition stores, bridges, locomotives and stirred up fighting on the Mexican frontier in order to cause trouble to the United States. And thus at last Wilson declared War. From a defender of neutrality he became a war fanatic, released all the moral and material forces of the United States which achieved miracles in production, transport, and organization. Finally the Allies won through with them and decided the fate of the whole War.
Wilson’s action was a model of its kind and was characteristic from the material, moral and tactical points of view, he sent diplomatic Notes, submitted his messages to Congress and only gradually did he create in them his doctrine of war. It is obvious that right up to the time when America was driven step by step into the War he formed his conception concerning the basis of the War, the Central Powers, their doctrines and opinions, the absolutism and aristocratism of these States and nations, their methods of fighting, and, in general, the ideological foundation of the entire world-conflict. It is a witness to the great moral strength of this great man that he managed to develop himself, instruct others, change his views, gain new knowledge of Europe, its oppressed peoples and their aims and advance from merely American to world interests. Wilson gradually grasped the fact that the War was a fight on behalf of the new world-democracy, a fight against European monarchical and aristocratic survivals. And thus he became the herald of the new Europe, the new world, the new life. An American Democrat, Lincoln’s successor and the spokesman of the American ideals of humanity, he became in this way the protector of European democracy and likewise the conscience of the world in the most fateful and tragical moment of the history of the modern age.
The United States and Wilson necessarily became in the World War a great moral force owing to various reasons:
America entered the War at a time when the Russian revolution was weakening the Allies, when the Central Powers were apparently victorious, when the physical exhaustion of the Allies was more than dangerous, and when Bolshevism was beginning to weaken the moral force of both sides.
For two years previously America had on several occasions intervened as an arbitrator in the dispute of the two sides. Several times both sides expressly invited America’s opinion and intervention. That procured for her an exceptional position and gave Wilson a moral prestige which was absolutely unequalled.
The world knew that Wilson did not wish to enter the War. At the moment when he was obliged to act against Germany, the whole world comprehended the moral significance of that action and to every one of his words great weight was ascribed.
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