The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-10
WILL THEME BE VAR?'
QUESTION PEOPLE ASK
Details OF the Lsisitania Horror Bring
the Tiouwht 20 Every
Mind.
VIRGINIA PRESS rs ALMOST
UNANIMOUS IN CONCERNING
Express Horror and indignation at
Act Of Wholesale Murder" and of
sheer Piracy"-JTrust the Presi-
dent, Says Lynchburg News.

That vas the question all day yes
terday on the lips of many anc IN
the minds OF all in Richmond when
the news came that worst fears had
been realized and that a thousan
men, women and children. many of
them Americans, had been cru ely,
foully and deliberately murdered on
the high seas.
The same question is being asked
throughout the United States. and if
the state of mind OF the country can
be guaged by that of the people here
at home, the fear is universal
throughout the United States.
What will the United States Gov
eminent do about it,"
is this the crowning act of Ger
man desperation or will other and
equally horrible acts be committed 2"
will we be able to keep out of it
now?"
Should we keep out after this
wholesale assassination of American
citizens?"
Many Outspokcn for War.
These are a sample of the questions
asked. Some of the more hot-blooded
did not ask questions; they made dec
larationa and those declarations were
for war. For the most part. however,
the people took the news with an out
ward calm that hid an undercurrent of
white-hot indignation. They feared
the necessity Of rather than demand
ed, reprisai on the part OF this Gov
eminent and they feared. too. for the
safety of other transatlantic liners
en- route to Europe through the
mythical German war zone. Should
one of these be torpedoed and more
American lives lost, the belief was ex-
pressed that, anxious as he liz for
peace, President Wilson would be ut
teriy unable. even If he desired. to
stem thu torrent OF indignation and
bitter resentment that would rush in
mighty iood that could not be
damned.
Whatever difference of opinion there
may have been. there was to be heard
no dissent from the view that Ger
many has aroused the hostility Of the
civilized world. She has cut herself
off from sympathy from any save Ger
mans.
There are no neutrais in this
country now, was the statement of
one man, expressing the opinion of all
heard to discuss the matter.
Condemnation Universal.
The Virginia .press agrees almost
unanimously with that Of Richmond
that Wholesale murder and piracy
that define the sinking of the
Lusitania. Under the heading, SAY
age Warfare" the Newport News
Press declares that the enormity of
the fiendish act Btuns the Imagination.
II IL past the comprehension Of civil
ICED man. while Walter e. Addison.
of the Lynchburg News, writing be-
fore receiving information of the
death of hundreds. declares it to be
1.-The work of an undersea assassin; a
crime of sheer piracy" 1t adds:
Perhaps the rr ost regrettable con-
sequence Of the affair 10 the probable
public opinion with respect to Ger
many"
Sunday morning the News urges
calmness. 1t says:
"Our first impulse and our first
advice Is to trust the President. In
large sense he is to decide. He is TO
conceive and to prosecute all needful
signs necessary to meet the situation
as 1t Is now presented. Nor will he
proceed to the task until fully APP
prised of all the facts and circum-
stances bearing upon the Lusitania 8
fate. Hence some cooling time will
De aIIOFueu. Inc puUifC temper VIII
be Gained ere he acts and public
: opinion will have assumed dts normal
,poise. In the meantime. too. oppor-
stunlty will be afforded the American
people to cultivate frame of mind
consistent with purpose to accept the
Presidents action as their own, and
to sternly resolve that their earnest
cooperation shall be at his disposal.
That the part of pa&riotism--it is the
hpart Of the American patriot-and II
should be recognized 40 such, respect
ed az such, pracyiced AZ sstch."
Calls for Vigorous Action.
The Roanoke World-News OF yester-
day declares that the disaster calls for
prompt and vigorous action by those
in authority, not only to ascertain
the facts. but to adopt some plan
whereby Americans travelling in
various parts of the world may be
safeguarded.
The Danville Register. aloe of the
Virginia newspapers that have spoken.
justifies the action Of the submarine,
declaring that there was nothing for
the submarine to do but to attack and
sink her. II possible. It u all part
of modern warfare" The Register
says that presumably" the L,sitania
was armed for }efense.