The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-08

minds in Europe and the very near fatality OF
a war which. having long been hatched vas
on the point OF breaking out. buekeuul OF
American good sense poured on the incense
quentials which divided the world would have
brought back serenity 10 our souls and peace
among the nations.
What a grandiose and unforgettable role
Brother Johnathan would have accomplished II
he had offered at that moment his services as
a mediator. France and England. as well as
Russia, desired peace. The German people
sentiment. But came. and we now find
ouseves faced by different eventualties.
Since the month o. August last Europe and
the Allies have had their eyes fixed on the
United States. The violation OF Belgian neu-
trality had been accomplished. Now, articles
one and two OF the Eleventh Convention OF the
Hague, voted at the second conference. pro
claimed the absolute inviolabity OF neutral
countries. All the States which accepted this
provision, including the United States were
bound in dealing with one another to respect
this fundamental principle OF International life.
Germany, in disregardlng this law. failed not
only to Ill her engagement toward the small
state violated but toward all the contracting
parties OF The Hague Convention. Morally
the United States was obliged To intervene and
TO cause to be respected even by force. the
obligation Of which it was a co-signatory. All
neutral countries which did not protest and
cause to be respected in an energetic manner
the duty incumbent upon them have, In their
turn. reduced TO the level OF a scrap OF paper"
their solemn engagement.
Neutrality does not involve silence and resig.
nation before misdeeds. Without taking arms
the United States could have officially and
openly condemned the crime. neutrality
that is too passive is only the negation OF mo-
rality. We cannot be Indifferent to good and
evil. II does not suffice to stretch out a merci-
full hand to a man who has been robbed. but
the righteous man must also have the courage
10 denouDce the spOilator.
International morality would be nothing but
vain word IL the violation OF its laws should
be supported passively by the most influential
and most respected members of the civilized
world.
We might admit. IL need be. the silence OF
Denmark. or Switzerland. or of Holland. which
at the least imprudent word might have bess,
devoured by the German ogre, but the Official
silence of the United States has caused hot in
dignaton to some of us and sadness to others
The same reasoning applies TO the violation
OF the other rules concerning the rights and
the duties of tAa Inhabitants of countries oc-
cupied by the saeny. There is Geneva Con
vention, which was revised In 1906. regulating
these matters. There was, in addition, The
Hague Convention, signed in 1899 and in 1907
by the nations giving their adherence to It,
The Government OF the United States con
tinues in spite OF this to preserve officially its
taciturn highly Indifferent neutrality.
Could this be otherwise? All those who have
studied the racial composition of the American
people have understood their painful position
with regard 10 the war which is ravagng Eu-
rope. Its Government was obliged to display
diplomacy OF an uncommon kind to maintain
intact the Interior unity OF its inhabitants.
An energetic protestation OF neutrality hon
estly based on the obligations which this i'm.
poses would have been considered by the Ger
manophie elements OF the United States as a
simple act OF hostility The dissensions be-
tween the Anglo-Saxons and the Germans in
the United States have shown that its citizens
OF German origin are stl strongly attached to
the mother country. IL only remained for the
American Government TO sustain with skilful
juggleTy the principle OF equilibrium between
its citizens within and the belligerents with
out This skill should assure to the Govern
ment the gratitude OF the German minority.
But IL has not always been received in Europe
in the same way. In Europe people saw too
often the weakness, the indecsiOn, the fear of
the tOo-pOWerful Germans and too often an In.
admissible predetermination OF the question.
In these conditions the roll OF mediator or
arbitrator by the United States when peace
shall come appears 10 be gravely compromised
Nevertheless ~ would have been a fine thing
for the great American people 10 be- taking part
In the establishment OF the future supreme
court Of the world.
Its solidarity with the future peace OF the
Id would thus have bound free America
more strongly to- Europe. The United States
would have derived many immediate and re-
mote advantages. Modern ornaments have de.
stroyed the conventional conception OF the Old
and the New World Just as England is mo-
longer an island. sheltered from every invasion