The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-07-27

In another column today is printed
| letter from Mr.. James c, Colgate
relative to the American controversy
with Germany. We regret to note
from his letter that Mr.. Colgate
hasn't been reading The Banner much
lately and trust he will correct that
oversight The Banner all through
the war has upheld the right of Amer
leans TO sell munitions of war to the
allies or to ANYBODY else.9 We rather
regret to see this trade in slaughter
house machinery grow to such aston
ishing proportions and wish the same
money and energy might have gone
into the development of the South
American trade or some line more en-
during than explosives, but this feel
ing is sentimental rather than logical.
We bought ammunition abroad when
we We're at war and have no right to
refuse to sell when others are i'll the
same trouble. On the other questions
at issue, Mr. Colgate and The Banner
differ somewhat, but not very serious
ly. International law is not like
statute law. Most of 1t is not even
written and it cannot often be inter-
preted by court for there is no court
having full jurisdiction. International
the application of common sense and
justice to each question as it arises.
guided somewhat by precedent but
never permissible to ALLOW precedent
or previous decision to stand in the
way of right in dealing with a case at
hand. The sinking of the Lusitania,
was in itself an act of piracy and the
United States most properly made
vigorous protest, but the situation
which is emphasized and as it now
stands is new one and not to be set
tied by any old presidents or
written conventions, but by applying
the scales of justice and measuring
by the standards of right and wrong.
Americans have a right to sell mum.
lions of war to the allies, but the
American government has no right to
even attempt to insure the delivery of
these munitions to the purchasers.
To do so is to cease to be neutral and
become belligerent in effect, All
that the United States is justified in
doing is to give reasonable police pro
lection to the ships until they clear
the three mile limit off our coast, |
Germany, with the lives of her people |
and the fortune of her empire at
stake, has absolute right to attempt
to prevent the delivery of these NUM- |
tions of war to her enemies. Now
apply the rule of commonsense 70 the |
situation. The law of our states and
nation do not sanction the transporta- |
ton of dynamite and gunpowder on
passenger trains. They may not |
legally be carried through the streets |
Of our cities on trolley cars. Is |
there any good reason why explosives
and other dangerous munitions of war
should be carried on passenger steam.
ers? OF course not Only partisan |
ship and the selfish pecuniary inter-
ests of American shippers support so
pTPpOSLGTOuS Il theory. allow EHS-
land to insure her cargoes of guns,
cartridges, shells, gunpowder, gases,
acids, gun-cotton, etc, by |
carrying american passengers on the |
same ships comes so near violation |
Of neutrality that it is in danger of in
volving the United States in war AS !
Mr.. Colgate well says the main issue
should not be overlooked. But the
main issue now is not American lives |
hat went down with the Lusitania
i is whether the United States will |
'isk more and more American lives
by permitting assengers-American
)r alien-to leave our shores cooped in
built over stores of death
lealing apparatus of war. Settle that
Joint on foundation of justice, and !
hen, If Germany refuses to be bound
~ rule so eminently fair, join with |
he alliessin her undoing.