The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-01-18

not law. Law. they tell you. Il body Of
rules with power behind It for enforcement
II nothing IL law but what has force behind
1t, then we must admit that international
law is only international morality. But
whether law or morality. It has. up to this
year. been . living thing. growing In strength
year by year. It has had ono backing: one
support-the public opinion Of the civilized
world.
Perhaps the most potent thing In the world
10 public opinion. In every community We
know that the public opinion ID more potent
than the law Of the community. It IL the
opinion Of the peoples of the earth that sup
ports the structure Of international law and
morality which has been SO long in building
up and to which civilized states have pledged
their allegiance We have called . state
civilized when 1t bound itself to take cogniz-
ance of these laws. and barbarous when it ig-
nored these laws.
Where 10 tho public opinion Of the world to
raise its voice against this violation of Bel.
gums neutrality?
Where was the Government of the United
States, which represents the will of the people,
at the time when the great powers rushed
into war without first submitting their dit
ferences to calm inquiry as the rules of in
ternational law require and their own agree.
ments had pledged them to do?
Where was the will Of the people of the
United States where did 1t find expression
when the integrity OF the soil Of Belgium was
violated?
Where was our voice Of disapproval when
bombs were dropped into unfortined towns to-
kill and injure women and children7
Where the public opinion of America
, when the North Sea sown with danger
contact mines. first by Germany and then
by England. threatening destruction to neu.
k~e
papable violation OF the rights OF neutral
nations and the principles of international
law and morality.
It was the duty of tho United States to
maintain the integrity of the principles OF
international law by filing q prompt and firm
protest, first against the rashness Of the ma
tons involved in plunging into war without
first allowing time for the points at issue to
be fairly considered; second. against the vio-
lation Of the neutrality Of Belgium; third,
agonst the criminal offense Of dropping bombs
into unfortified towns, or without first giving
the inhabitants warning. and fourth, in pac-
ing contact mines In waters traversed by
neutral shipping.
The United States
Should Have Protested.
Some people say it is grotesque to protest
unless you are prepared to back up your pro-
test with force; others say that II we had pro-
tested would become involved in the war.
This is not true It is common practise OF
nations to make protests against what they
consider violations Of international law. and
1t is never considered otfense to do 50. II
we had made early and dignifed protests to
the warning powers. it might have had some
good effect; If our protests had been ignored,
we should at any rate. have stood up before
the world and given notice that there is at
least one power on the face Of the earth which
stands for public right and for fair play. and
is prepared now and hereafter to maintain
that right.
We shall have an important duty to per.
form when the time comes to consider the
terms Of peace which will follow this war.
have heard it said that 1t is none Of our bust.
ness, and that when the warning powers de.
eide to talk peace they will settle it them.
selves without bothering about our opinion.
We and our opinion have come to stay in
International affairs. The neutral nations and
their opinions are now, and will be more in
the future, big factors in international affairs
None OF the big powers at think our
opinion negligible quantity. Everything We
say about the war concerns them greatly.
If It were not SO these governments would
not be maintaining in this country press
bureaus to influence our opinion. The Kaiser
would not appeal to u.s. nor would the Presi-
dent of France. unless they believed that our
opinion was potent
The discrediteC. bankrupted statesmanship
OF Europe will not undertake to 5ettle this
war without taking the neutral powers into
conference with them. doubt it this worth
less. disreputable European statesmanship has
any more confidence left in itself.
We still have a public opinion. voiceles,