The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-05-20
Contributed.

The sinking Of the Lusitania by a i
German submarine OF the coast OF
Ireland came as shock TO the entire
world. TIE wholesale murder OF
helpless women and children and de-
fenSeleSs men has no parallel in his.
tory, either OF ancient or modern
times Imperial Rome under Nero
and Tiberius, two 0f the most blood
thirsty Of her rulers furnish no par
allsl 60 this crime against humanity
and civilization. Paganism at this
time was in the ascendency and
fiendlsh cruelty vas often practiced
in individual cases, but history no
where records the sacrifice OF women
and children to the Gods of war.
Hannibal and Nerxes, mighty generals
iu their day having the command OF
millions OF soldiers and prosecuting
wars of conquest, we're never guilty
OF the slaughter OF women and chill
dren. Although pagans in Eelief,
they we're generous to their enemies
when they we're defenseless.
Alexander the Great carried his
conquests TO the limits OF Europe.
His wars Of invasion reached almost
the length and breadth of the then
known world. His battles we're
fought with skill aud strategy, and
with desperate perseverance to sin
or die. Yet history nowhere records
a single instance where, 10y his order,
a defenseless man or woman was as
sassinated.
The wars prosecuted by Napoleon
Bona Parte, though fought with tre-
mendous valor and manly courage,
furnish no ft companion for this dia.
bolical deed done in cold blood and
premeditated.
| Consider this crime from any point
of view and 1T is absolutely and er
tirely inexcusable. This vessel car
ried no armament. 1t WAS Oh a
peaceful mission. 1t was carrying
only noncombatants. Many Of It's
passengers were neutrals and all were
uuarmed and had no means Of de-
Tense. And to add to the heiaous
ness Of the crime, women, cllldreE
and babes in arms went down with
the ship.
There appears to be abundant Ell
dence of an Interior motive In attack
ing this particular vessel. Nhat this
motive vas can only be inferred from
the late utterances ri the Germ {
government through the public press
To put It plain, the German govern
ment is determined to compel tia
United States to abandon its positi !
OF neutrality. The reason for sucl
action does not al present seem clear
Where Germany expects to profit b!
embroiling the United States In thl
war is hard TO understand. The at
titude Of the German government to
ward this country has been NIT onl.
uufriendly but hostile, since the he
ginning OF the war, and withou
cause or reason. The United State
has treated ali OF the warning nation
with equal courtesy and friendship
and i'm conformity to her policy Il
the past size has generously aided tn
suffering noncombatants where sucl
aid was possible under the existin
military regulations. This aid an
friendship could not reach the Ger
man empire because of its Isolation
Advantage has been taken by tn
German government Of many pre-
texts for this hostile feeling none q
which have any foundation. In fact
Germany could have bought anythin
she desired In the United States up
on the same footing as any OF th
other beligerents, yet she claims sh
is being stabbed in the back becaus
the United States sells munitions {
war TO the other belligereDts. tn
markets Of this country are open
Germany but she does not buy fC
the simple reason that she Is DC
powerful enough to patrol the se
and protect her purchases. The iau
then does not lie with the Unite
States. But for the moment admi
ting that all OF the claims OF &c
many are true was the German go
eminent justified in assassinatir
more than a thousand innocent pc
pie without warningr
1t requires long stretch Of ina
inati0u 20 take in, to its last detai
this awful tragedy. A ship on Il
open sea freighted with human life
men, women and children. Son
left dear relatives and friends on Il
shores Of tie United States, othe
no doubt we're expecting IN me
dear ones upon the shores 81 En-
land. All felt secure and hap
trusting Ia the magnanimlty al
chlvalry Of The Nays Of all ciyiliz'
governments Never thought
#ipssauf death and disaster enter