The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-07-28
THE COUNTRY IS
BACKING WILSON
COMMENTS ON THE LATEST
AMERICAN NOTE FROM
LEADING PAPERS OF
THE COUNTRY.
The News and Courier:

nOClce TO ina unC tHdI fepeliIloli
by the commanders of German wal
vessels of acts in .contravention OF
the rights of neutrals will be regard
led by the United States, when they
affect American citizens, "as delib-
erately unfriendly," This, in other
words, is the final warning preceding
action. 1t now rests wholly with
Germany whether or not the Con-
gress of the United States snail be
assembled in extraordinary session to
uphold the hands of the President
and take such action against the I'm
perial German Government as the
dignity and safety of the country
may demand.
We are come, therefore, to the
most solemn moment of all these
months of tension and anxiety. We
have drawn a line across which Ger
many must not step. We have not
forgotten the dead of the Lusitania
and we have renewed our demand for
disavowal of the dreadful deed that
cost those innocent one their lives
and for reparation in so far as it is
possible for Germany to give repair
alton for injuries that are without
measure. But we have not told
Germany that, if this disavowal and
this reparation are not forthcoming,
she must meet us in battle. War
is a dreadful alternative. 1t is the
last recourse. The time has not yet
come when we can seek amends for
the past only with the sword. We
can perform a great service to civil
zation and to humanity if through us
Germany'shall be induced to abandon
the barbarous and illegal methods
which she has employed; and to in
sist. to the point of war upon imme-
date disavowal of the Lusitania ira
gedy would probably eliminate all
likelihood of compliance by. Germany
With the demands which this country
has made concerning the future. And
so it is the future with which we have
primarily concern ourselves and in
regard to which we have shut off ar
gument and talk and demanded
deeds. Germany's, acts in the fu-
ture will determine the issue of
peace or war.
There may be further discussion
Of some of the points at issue in this
great controversy, but concerning
the main point the discussion is clos
ed and the United States has spoken
its last word. We shall find in Ger
many's acts, not in her words, her
reply to our principal demand-the
demand that hereafter our rights
shall not be violated or our people
done to death. Presumably there
will be a German answer in writing
to this note; but the answer that the
people of this country will await will
be spoken in the waters of the war
zon about the British Isles.
The Savannah (Ga.) Morning
News: "The new note is to the
point and is meant to end the contro-
versy 1t sums up the case, puts
the position of our Government
clearly and forcibly. 1t is unneces-
sary to say more. An act that is
deliberately unfriendly' cannot be
satisfactorily explained. The note
will meet with the approval of the
American people,"
The Columbia IS. c. State
whether Germany will continue at
peace with the United States ,or not
depends on whether or not Germany
shall in the future commit an act
deliberately unfriendly' to the Unit,
ed States by assailing, without warn
ing, the rights of American citizens
travelling on merchant ships on the
high seas.
"Will Germany now make war on
, the United States? 1t is for Ger
many to say. 1t is for Germany to
do or not to do.
''The American people, through
their Government, have said the last
word. For them now is to await
with firmness and confidence the
event, whatever it shall be. Mean
while, the hour is arrived when dis
cussion and difference may not be
reconciled with that patriotism which
is the first attribute of American
citizenship"
The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph
"While not so denominated, the last
not to Germany is an ultimatum in
that the next submarine outrage
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