Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-08-19
Crime Is Not Admirable.

Attorney, George D. Moore,
criticizes the administration as
having been lacking in courtesy
to Germany in that our last note
on the "Lusitania" murders was
not couched in sufficiently po-
lite" terms Of diplomatic express;
sion and stigmatizing it as
'brusque."
He then asserts that the sink
ing Of the> Lusitania should be
arbitrated.
No one should be better quail
fed to Judge whether felony
can be ,arbitrated than an officer
of the law charged with its en-
forcement.
Elsewhere in our columns Mr..
T. C. Green discusses the case
from the standpoint of inter-
national law and we restrict our
selves to comment on but two of
the propositions advanced by Mr..
Moore.
President Wilson has with SUI
preme tact and the utmost for
bearance asked Germany to either
disclaim liability for the "Lusi-
tania" murders or to make such
reparation as is possible for so
dastardly a crime.
There are those who believed
that our course should have been
to imediately insist on one or
other such answer, or to have
severed diplomatic relations with
a government which had put it.
self outside the pale of civilization
The vast ma jority of the
American people however, regard
less of political utilization, have
loyalty stood by the President
and have not sought to make
harder the task to which he has
dedicated all his splendid abilities.
It is the duty of every good
/ American to uphold his hands in
what may be a supreme crisis of
the Republic.
England may have confscated
cargoes and otherwise interfered
with our shipping and if so should
be brought to book. But she has
killed no American citizens in
cold blood.
The rights of property may lie
arbitrated-vide the Alabama y
claims-but the murder of men,
women and children can never be.
When Germany in all her notes
deliberately lodges the issue and
when told that her policy OF
piracy if continued will be re-
garded as an "unfriendly act"
one can but wonder at our self
control and forbearanee in discus
Sing so hideous crime.
It may not be an act of treason
to remind President Wilson that
it is exceedingly easy to become
embroiled in a war and pretty
difficult to get out of it.
Doubtless no one appreciates
that fact more than he. But in
our judgement this is no time for
Americans to criticize their Presi-
dent nor to make harder his task,
by giving aid and comfort to
those who have so cruelty wronged
us by making it appear that the
United States is divided on the
policy to be adopted in dealing
with them.
AS to the responsibility for the
fearful holocaust which is devas.
tating the world there can be but
one opinion in impartial minds.
The Allies were caught in a
state OF unpreparedness, cempar-
able only to our own, when Bel.
GUMS integrity-guaranteed by
the United States and Germany
as well as the other signatory
powers to the Hague Convention
was violated.
Germany was trained to the
minute and ready for the fray.
If the Allies had war in con.
temptation would they have been
caught as they were, lacking in
adequate armies and almost with.
out arms and ammunition !?
The European war was caused
by the arrogant insistance" Of
ONE ruler.
The judgement of the civilized
world has been rendered.
Pointing to the Kaiser it pro.
claims Thou art the man -
Georgia's Disgrace.
The sovereign state of Georgia
has been shamed by. an act oil
Saparerv which will retard he1