Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1915-06-03

Presidents note sent shortly after
the sinking Of the Lusitania. In
the answer an attempt is made TO
equivoeate and prolong the discus
sions. To many persons it has ap-
peared that Germany was purposeIy
endeavoring to embroil the United
States. 1t is an open secret that
the German nation feels aRRrieved
because the United States refused
to prohibit the sale munitions of
war to all Corners Germany being
unable to appear among them for
obvious reasons.
AS to the sale of munitions of war
it can be only the thoughtless that
can censure our government for its
course. The American nation is q
neutral one 1T is not engaged in u
war with any country. Hence, all
nations are rightfully entitled to
purchase any of our products II
they have the money to pay for the
same. 1t is not this nation that 10
responsible for the conditions in
which Germany finds herself Of be.
ing unable to take advantage Of our
market. And that is one of the
things that should have been con-
sidered when Germany took the
initial step to appoint German
governor for Paris" Right now
Germany is welcome to buy her
munitions of war at our door, But
she can't because England and her
allies have control of the seas.
That is Germany's misfortune. But
because such a condition does exist
is no excuse whatever for that hard.
pressed nation to show her teeth
and sink and slaughter American
lives and property without COM
junction.
The American government is sup
posed to have the first say in the
United States. Germany may do
likewise in her domain. But on the
high seas all neutral nations are
free. Neither England nor Ger
many Gun find any excuse for injur
ing property and lives OF this nation
on the high seas. The remark il
heard that Americans have no bus
mess on the firing lines in northern
France and in like measure they
should stay off the high seas. As q
matter of Individual foresight and
prudence. such q course is COM
mendable. If a German submarine
should cause the death af an Amer
lean passenger our government
should hold the culprit nation respon-
slble. But that would do little good
for the victim. Hence, stay of the
ocean, if possible.
When Germany proceeds to sink
at will neutral vessels and innocent
passengers she is in the position of
the individual that attempts to pre-
vent others from travelling q public
street because Of quarrel with
some other individual. The ocean
is the highway Of the nations. 1t is
not the property of Germany. If
Great Britain has a navy sufficient
to keep the upper hand without in
juring neutrsls. that is her affair.
1t is quite certain that Germany
will not meet the demands of this
nation. It. is equally certain that a
declaration of war by our govern
ment could accomplish little good.
We have practically no standing
army-none when speaking in figures
OF European nations. Our feet
would do little good for the Ger
mans are keeping in hiding. In
fact from the German viewpoint
there could be but one result: Ger
many needs her submarine cam.
paign. 1t is her only weapon against
England. She can fear but little
from the entrance of the United
States-and she would be at liberty
to prey upon American ships and in.
terests should she care to vent a spite
for fancied wrongs. On the other
hand, the moral support of this ma
tion would ultimately have impor-
tant hearings on the result of the
war. We are making no sacrifices
at present. But, as an ally Of the
British. French and their comrades,
the needed supplies and financial
support would be at their disposal
1t would seem that Germany is al
lowing her headstrong passions to
rule her diplomacy to a degree. Ger
tainly her Count Won Bernstein
leaves poor taste in the mouth"
Have you no enemies? Then you
never stood for right against wrong.
You have never defended the weak
against the bully. You have never