The Washington times., 1915-05-08
THE DUTY OF AMERICA

tions, be ripped into scraps In order
that aboriginal savagery may make
it's greatest bid for the privilege of
ruling the world?
The time is come when the United
States must give its answer to these
questions.
The case of Belgium, raped utter
ly without cause or excuse; the
wholesale destruction of innocent
and non-combatant life, on land and
sea, in violation of all the treaties
governing the relations of states and
the methods of war; the use Of Zep-
pelins to murder the sleeping women
and children of defenseless villages
without the zone of war; the employ
ment of asphyxiating gases in the
effort to smother the last effort of
civilization in its own defense; and
now, the murder, deliberate, pre-
meditated, announced, and adver-
tised like a theatrical performance,
of thousand civilians on merchant
ship; the loss of a vast number Of
American lives in this outrage
against the rights Of merchant ves-
sells on the high seas-these things
make it absolutely necessary that
the United States shall declare its
position in terms that shall leave no
uncertainty, shall permit no alter
native save instant assurance that
Germany is not making war on this
country.
1t is impossible that America shall
continue to be the victim of war,
without being a party to the affair.
Particularly does the tragedy Of
the Lusitania make it necessary that
the. United States shall take a final
and irrevocable position, because the
moral effect of our action at this
moment is certain to be wide reach
ing.
The United States has no need to
fear, however much it may dread,
any eventuality.
Italy stands on the brink of war.
Her determination may be guided by
the events OF the next few days in
connection with the discussions be-
tween Washington and Berlin, fol-
lowing the loss of the Lusitania.
1t may be set down as absolutely
certain that Italy, after remaining
neutral SO long, is not going to seek
deliberately to align herself now on
the losing side.
The action that Washington takes
in the present juncture will go far
ther than the winning of any single
battle, to show which side is the GER
tain loser.
Let the Washington Government
make perfectly plain that this ma
tion's honor may not be flouted; that
it is as sacred as that of any coun-
try that has drawn the sword.
The moral effect on all the world,
and particularly on Italy and the
hesitating countries of Bahama, will
be instant and conclusive.
For months there has been grow
ing conviction that one side in the
world war was determined that the
United States must become a COM
batant; must be goaded into it as an
enemy if it could not be cajoled into
it as an ally. 1t is no secret, here
in Washington, that the highest au-
thorities of this Government have
been firmly convinced on this point.
Can any greater provocation be
given than this attack on American
lives aboard the Lusitania? Just
one. A like attack on an American
passenger vessel; and that attack
may be made at any moment now.
Can it be doubted, in view of the
affair of the Gulflight?
In the case of the Gulfight the
American flag was insulted and
American lives were taken; without
notice, and in utter disregard of the
laws of civilized war.
In the case of the Lusitania, the
deliberate purpose to violate the
laws of war, to destroy neutral lives
wholesale, was advertised in ad-
vance; and then that purpose was