Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-28
Saturday, August 20, 1915.
To Us Il Seems Narrow.

pIeSJpitdteu tue present bCNWSSA
the United States and Germany This
was an English vessel and it is de.
plorable that Americans take the RISK OF
travelling on ships that are subjected to
such dangers.
"a true lover Of America should sacri-
flee personal whims when the honor and
the peace of the nation hangs In the
balance. 1t seems like asking too much
to expect the country to stand up and
fight just because few are overdaring."
. The salvation Of 100000 destitute
Belgians was hardly personal
whim' to be sacrificed by Americans.
And it was hardly possible without
few daring" ones passing back and
forth between this country and the
coast Of Europe. Indeed, it may not
be discourteous to his eminence and
to such as Mr.. Bryan. to suggest that
the small number of American citi-
zens (entitled to and promised the
protection Of the American flag) who
have attempted to cross the Atlantic
in q year has been the more amazing
hardly accuse the women and children
who went down with the Lusitania of
being "overdaring." He and our
friend, and Mr.. Bryan, must admit
that critical periods are bound to arise
in every life when that person deems
a certain coming or going a matter Of
life or death. And these people, too,
had been led to believe in the in
tegrity of the American government.
and had been taught to expect protec-
ton in the pursuit of their legal per-
sonal affairs. And these few Ca very
few have trusted their lives to the
sacred agreements of nations-and
have lost, because of the most brutal
pledges of which any nation in history
has been guilty.
We are surprised that his eminence
should so narrowly draw his conclu-
sions, by saying: 1T seems like ask
ing too much to expect the country to
stand up and fight just because few
are overdaring"
1t seems to us that Cardinal Glib
bons could have better used trust
ing" than "overdaring'' For Ameri-
cans trusted in their government;
they trusted in the honor of great ma
tons; they had faith in the solemn
agreement Of Germany that she would
not fire upon a merchant or passenger
ship without giving passengers and
crew opportunity to escape.
The trust Of these people was base
ly betrayed-that is why Americans
would fight. 1t was not that women
and innocent babes had wantonly de-
termined to dare" the Kaiser, as a
boy climbs a tree but because they
had faith in humanity and Christian
progress, and TRUSTED their lives to
it-and lost. That is whv American
blood boils, and all the cardinals and
peace at any pricers, since Caesar
cannot soften their temper into turn
ing the other cheek to the arrogance,
mockery, dishonor. uncleanness and
devilish ingenuity Of a selfish war,
Americans believe that peaceable citi-
!, zens of the world have rights as we'll
, as those that are wallowing in gore.
Our President took the broad
ground of humanity and urged Ger
. many to respect the humane princi-
pies established by civilized powers
, That was all we asked. If American
citizens thought it necessary to cross
! waters marked as dangerous they
might expect the inconvenience of be-
ing transferred and their steamer
sunk as an act of war. but every civ
ilized government was expected to re-
tain honor and bravery enough to
give women and children, those at
to escape the wrath to be inflicted on
an enemy ship.
Cardinal Gibbons thinks this coun-
try was on the verge of war because
every last American citizen did not
crawl into his shell and stay there
until the war is over. On the con-
trary. We reached a warlike temper
because the attempt Of few Ameri-
can citizens showed up the German
contempt for the American govern.
mont, for the rights Of American citi-
Gems, for the virtue Of international
pledges.
The cardinal must think the Boxer
/. uprising had to be suppressed be-
cause Christ's teachings were sent
into dark places; he must think we
subdued Spain purely and simply be-
cause the Maine was blown up.