Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-02-26
I Fl X S e N TIN Ell.
ROCKVILLE, MD.
Friday Morning-."February 90, 1915.
KEEP COOL.

hDB4 OONLs
At no period of our national history has
there been greater need than there is to-
day OF preserving a firm hold upon our
tempers. From the very outset 1t was
evident that the European war was des-
tined to be death grapple, and it is there
fore not surprising that belligerant rights
are being pressed to the utmost limit. New
instruments Of warfare, upon which the in
ventive genius of the world. and especially Of
Germany, has been engaged for forty years,
have materially changed the conditions
which existing rules of International law
were designed to meet. 1t was to be ex-
pected, therefore, that difficult situations
for neutrals would be created and that
many causes of irritation would arise, grow
ing out of the desire Of neutral nations to
trade with the peoples at war at prices
which promised unusual returns to the
shippers.
II should not be overlooked that the re-
lations between belligerants and neutras
are subject to the recognized laws of war,
and that those who elect to trade with
warning nations assume risks which can
not be avoided and for which their own
governments should not be held responsible.
At the same time, neutral governments
are bound to uphold the right of their citi-
zens to trade with beligerants within the
rules of international law; to defend their
flags from insult, and to protect the lives
Of their citizens upon the high seas from
wanton attack.
All this, it seems to us, the government
Of the United States is striving to do. The
task is sufficiently difficult without any
manifestation of "jingoism" on the part of
our people. Ours is the only country so
situated as to be able to furnish to the
belligerants the supplies they need in suf-
ficient quantities, and it is natural that
those engaged in particular industries
should wish to take advantage of the alb
normal demand for their goods. 1t is also
natural for them to chafe under any losses
or disappointments that may occur.
But up to the present moment nothing
has taken place to justify the suggestion
that we should 90 to war; and the out
cropping of war talk only renders more
delicate and onerous the burden that rests
upon the Administration. The President
is right in his efforts to preserve the peace.
From the money side alone, the cost of a
year of warfare would greatly exceed any
possible losses which our trade is likely to
suffer. and while il is improbable that we
should be subject to invasion and devas-
tation, we could not hope to escape alto
gether the consequences which war entails.
Indeed, every consideration demands that
we should aid, not thwart. the President,
in his purpose to avoid a conflict. Nor
should we be impatient if we are not in
formed of the plans made to that end.
We must assume that the Administration
is in possession of knowledge that is hid
den to us, and that there are coeent rea-
sons for Withholding it from the public
The likelihood of deliberate insult to
the American flag is extremely remote.
England and Germany are too dependent
upon the United States to cut themselves
off from our abundant stores. The devel-
opments Of the war, il is true, leave Eng
land in the better position to draw upon
them.-a situation for which we are IN nc
manner responsible, and which does moi
justify. on Germany's part. resentment
which would inevitably deprive her of sup
plies which, apparently she sorely needs.
Let us not forget that hundred year,
ago we passed through a similar expert
ence. which, for that day, was as critica
as what we are facing now and in somt
of its features far more irritating. which
eventually led to our war of 1912. Tn,
interests involved in 1915 are Thousand
fold greater than then; the number O
people and the territory to be affected
have increased many times. and tn,
moral reasons for keeping out of the con
flict scarcely existed at all in those days
In the interval we have grown strong anC
great and rich, and are influential in tn,
councils of the nations of the earth. Al
the one strong neutral country we may. n
the proper moment, be in position to ait
materially in bringing the war to a clos,
upon honorable terms, with the enmity o
none and the good will of ALL No victor!
of arms could equal victory such as this
What we need is patience patience, ant
loyalty to the President in his patriot,
labor to avert the disaster which wa
would entail upon us. There need be n,
fear that our honor or our prestige will