Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-17
GIVES APPROVAL TO
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
True Craftsmanship Reflected in
Noted Paper, Is Judgment of
DIR. Maclachlan.
NO TINE TO SUGGEST PEACE
Thinks War Cannot End Until
Wrongs Of Belgium Have Been
Righted and Military Caste OF Ger
many Thoroughly HumbIed.
20 TIME TO SUGGEST PEACE

Discussing the subject. "The Secret
of True Statesmanship in a National
Crisis" last night at the Seventh
Street Christian Church, Rev. H. d. :.
Maclachlan, D. D., the pastor. paid a
high tribute to the attitude taken by
the sinking of the Lusitania. and said
that the message of the President to
Germany on the question must have
appealed to practically every on as
one thai reflected clear-minded states
manship. Cool-headedness and right
heartedness are the qualities that are
needed in times OF great national crisis
the speaker insisted. and both these
qualities have been displayed in this
country's dealings with Germany, in
his opinion.
DR.. Maclachlan described the mes
sage as that of man who would
not hand over his head to his passions
Of nation that, sure of it's own case
is willing to give the other side the
benefit of every doubt.
NO TIME TO TALK PEACE
TO NATIONS OF EUROPE
The minister thought it possible fol-
peace to be purchased too dearly, bu,
while he thought that the possibility
OF war lurked in the background oi
the Presidents message he was dis
posed to think also that it would re.
main there. However that may be. he
was sure it was no time to talk peace
to the nations of Europe Peace. he
said. Is unthinkable until the wrongs
Of Belgium have been redressed and the
DR.. Maclachlan said In part:
First of all, 1t behooves n great ma
tion TO keep cool in all times OF ma
tional crisis, and especially when the
issue is so great as that involved In
the diplomatic representation between
the United States and Germany. Moth
ing is ever gained by hasty, precipitate
action. Whatever is done should be
done-I do not say calmly and DELHI
erately-but at least only after the
first blush of hot Indignation has faded
from the cheek and all the evidence in
the case has been weighed in the clear
light OF international justice and the
dictates OF common humanity EN-
citement is n bad counselor. and of ma
tions. as we'll as of individuals, the old
proverb is true. Act in haste and re-
pent at leisure
MANY GREAT QUESTIONS
MUST BE CONSIDERED
"In a crisis like this there are a
great many things to be looked at
1t is by no means as simple as it looks
There are questions involved. as have
said, of International law in which the
opinion OF experts. like John Bassett
Moore, must be sought. There is the
question of neutrality--how far 1t Is
possible to preserve strict impartiality
between the warning peoples while at
the same time vindicating our own
rights as neutrals. There is the qucs-
tion Of national honor involved in the
killing of innocent citizens OF the
United States. There are the questions
arising out Of the fact that we are
signatories Of The Hague Convention
and the Convention of London, in which
certain principles of warfare are laid
down, which have been hagrantly vio-
lated. Above all. there is the supreme
question OF common national right
mindedness which responded with n
thrill OF horror when the news came
that hundreds OF innocent women and
children had been deliberately sent
into eternity by an act that even mill
tary necessity could not justify, far less
excuse. These are some of the ele-
ments Of the problem which the Pres
ident and his Cabinet have been bat
tling with during the last few days
PROBLEM THAT CALLS FOR
CLEAR-MINDED sTATESMANSIIIr
1T Is a problem that calls for the
most clear minded statesmanship. and
l think that nearly every one will
agree that the Presidents message to
Germany fulflls that condition. 1t is
n message OF quietness-of n man that
Will not hand over his head to the con-
troll OF his passions: OF nation that.
sure OF the justice OF Its own case. is
willing to give the other side the
benefit Of every doubt Perhaps some