The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-12
BACKWARD STEP.
SAYS ROOSEVELT
Ex-President Calls Wilson Pol
icy One of Blood and Water.
Says China May Take Comfort
From Such Ideals.
URGES COMMERCIAL BOYCOTT
Colonel Would Stop All Trade
With Germans.
Declares Berlin's Latest Note
Not Worthy of Reply.
URGES COMMERCIAL BOYCOTT

Syracuse. n. Y. May 12.-Formel
President Roosevelt believes that K
pursue President Wilson's foreign pol
icy as enunciated at Philadelphia
Monday night would cons1gn the Unit
ed States to the international position
now occupied by China.
Mr.. Roosevelt last night pleaded fol-
prompt action by the United States on
account of the Lusitania disaster
while commenting on President VIII
sons speech to a gathering of natur-
allied citizens in Philadelphia. Mr..
Roosevelt was particularly interested
in that part of the presidents speech
in which the latter referred to such
thing as a man being too proud to
fight and nation being so right
that it does not need to convince 9TH
ers by force that it is right"
China May Draw Consolation.
II think that China is entitled to
draw all the comfort she can from
land it would be well for the United
States to ponder seriously what the eff
feet on China has been of managing
her foreign affairs during the last 10
years on the theory thus enunciated.
IF the United States is satisfied
with occupying some time in the flu
ture the precise international position
that China now occupies, then the
United States can afford to act on this
theory. But it cannot act on this the
DRY if it desires to retain, or regain,
the position won for it under Wash
ington and the men who in the days
of Abraham Lincoln wore the blue un-
der Grant, the gray under Lee.
II very earnestly hope that he will
act promptly. The proper time for de-
liberation was prior to sending the
message that our government would
hold Germany to strict accounta-
bility' if it did the things which 1t has
now actually done.
Policy of Blood and Water.
1.-The $50 babies drowned on the
Lusitania, the hundreds of women
drowned with them-scores of these
women and children being Americans
and the American ship, the Gulf
light, which was torpedoed, offer an
eloquent commentary on the actual
working of the theory that it is not
necessary to assert rights and that a
policy of blood and iron can with eff
ficacy be met with a policy of blood
and water.
Urges Embargo on Commerce.
without "a hours delay this coun-
try should, and could, take effective
action by declaring in view of Ger
many's murderous offenses against tho
rights of neutralS. all commerce with
Germany shall be forthwith forbidden
and all commerce of every kind per-
mitted and encouraged with France.
England and the rest of the civilized
world
This would not be a declaration Of
war. 1t would merely prevent NUM-
tions of war being SEM to a power
which by it's conduct has shown will
ingness to use munitions for the
slaughter of unoffending men, women
and children.
81 do not believe that the firm as
sertion of our rights means wal. but
it is well to remember there are things
worse than war.
Let US as nation understand that
peace is of worth only when it is the
handmaiden of international right
eousness and national seif-respect."
Calls Roosevelt Insulting.
Berlin, May 1.-THE attention of
Baron Mumm Won Schwarzenstein,
who. after long years of diplomatic
service, is now occupying a high po-
Sition in the German foreign office, |
has been called to the sharp criti-
cism of Germany in the American
press in connection with the sinking of
the Lusitania, the words attributed to
eX-President Roosevelt, that the sink
ing of the Lusitania was the greatest
act of piracy in history, being es-
pecially emphasized. The baron au-
thoriZed the following statement:
IF Mr.. Roosevelt used these words.
then he hurled an insult at the whole
German people, which we bitterly re-
sent, and at the time when we have 70
submit to the hatred and falsity of
enemies and former friends. He in
suited without excuse men who, fear
less of death, discharged their duty to
the Fatherland in the hour of need,
without hope of booty.
I'm the case of the Lusitania thei
German ambassador even further
warned Americans through the great
American newspapers against taking
passage thereon. Does a pirate act
thus? Does he take pains to save HUI
man lives? Does he publish warnings
at the risk of frustrating his own
plans?
Nobody regrets more sincerely than
We Germans the hard necessity of
sending to their deaths hundreds of
men. Yet the sinking was a justifiabie
act of war, just like the bombardins
of fortress or even an unfortified
city within the .theater of war and de-
stroying them with all the terrible in
struments of modern warfare without
regard for the peaceable people living
therein.
The newness of an instrument of