Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-06-11
FRIDAY JUNE IL. 1915
rHE VOICE OF rnr AMERIcAN rEOrLE.


THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
IN calm dignined and determined phrase, President
4 Wilson has spoken more 10 Germany.
It is the voice of the American people
Germany will do well TO heed It.
It's failure to do so will lead inevitably TO sinister
results
No American desires war. but practically all Amer-
cans will endorse uphold and endure it rather than
permit Germany to continue a murderous policy that
reached its eliminating point in the destruction of the
Lusitania
William Jennings Bryan may work overtime in an
effort to justify his refusal sign that German
and his desertion of HIS official post time when
every man should stand behind President Wilson in de-
tense Of the national honor, but II will avail him
Few Americans will be able to how Bryan could
sign the first note and refuse sign the second
which Is more emphatic and which might have been
made much stronger without doing violence to Amer
lean feeling
Americans who are worthy Of being called Americans
support their President in the demand that Germany
respect American life and American property and CON
duct its warfare along lines that within the four
corners OF international law and usage, particularly
with respect to neutrals and nop-comhatants
II may be said that there is little war sentiment
this country. That is true II may be said that the
United States does desire to fight That also is true
Germany. however must not be led to think, simply
because there is little war sentiment and absence
'of desire fight that this country is going to tolerate
In the future the outrages that il has suffered in the
past and that II will not fight If needsbe, to put
end to them.
There is an old saying, Beware Of the man who does
not wish to fight" It will be we'll for Germany to
bear It in mind. The people with Wilson and
against Bryan this matter Party and factional lines
have fallen Americans will see their President
through. They will not permit Bryan or any
other arbitration enthusiast or German sympa-
thzer to deprive him OF the moral material support
he may need in this crisis Americans will stand to-
sether in defense Of American life, honor and pro-
pery. They may tolerate Bryan. but they will not ap-
of him or give him comfort for his act of deser-
ton and his subsequent public criticism Of President
Wilson and his policy toward Germany.
We publish elsewhere the full Of President Will
sons note Our readers urged TO read it carefully
It is not an utmatum; does It close to Germany
the decent means OF retirement from an untenabe and
inhumane position has about it, however the true
American ring that will find an echo in every true
American heart. There is nothing in 1t or about II
that would constran any American other than one of
the peace at-any-price variety. refuse to give to II
his heartiest endorsement.
Nothing but actual orcible resistance or continued
efforts TO escape by flight ordered to stop for IN,
purpose Of visit the part OF the merchantmen la.
ever been held TO forfeit the lives Of her passengers
crew. the President says speaking particularly of thu
Falaba incident but expressing in sentence an i'm
portant declaration that Germany can take for genera
application. He calls upon Germany to prove that In
Lusitana armed. transporting Canadian troops AM
carrying a cargo not permitted under the laws of tn
United States when she torpedoed There is NOR
than a. broad intimation that, in making such charge
against United States officers in the port Of New Yorl
the German Government acts upon false information
He adds:
Whatever may be the contentious of the Imperis
German Government regarding the carriage Of cont
band Of on board the Lustania regarding Oh
explosion of that material by the torpedo il need onl
be said that in view this government these conten
lions irrelevant the question Of the legality
the methods used by the German naval authorities 1
sinking the vessel
But the sinking Of passenger ships involves prime
pies Of humanity which throw into the background an
special circumstances of detail that may be thought
aHect the cases, principles which lit H. the Imperia
German Government will doubt he mick IN re
cognize and acknowledge out of the class of ordnar
subjects OF diplomatic discussion or of internations
controversy Whatever be the other acts regarding m
Lusitania the principal fact is that great stcame
primarily ana chiefly conveyance for passengers an
carrying more than thousand souls who had no mai
Or lot in the conduct Of the war. was torpedoed an
sunk without so much as challenge or a warning an
hat men, women and children were sent 10 the
death In circumstances unparalleled in modern wa
fare The fact that more than hundred Americs
citizens were among those who persisted made il II
duty o. the government OF the United States TO spe;
Of these things and once more. with solemn emphas
10 call the attention of the Imperial German Cover
ment to the responsibility which the governme
Of the United States oonceives that II has incurred
this tragic occurrence and to the indispuable pri
siple upon which that responsibility rests.
The government of the United States Is cOntendi
for something much greater than rights OF pro
erfy privileges of commerce. 10 Is cOntendinV
nothing less high and sacred than the rights huma
y. which every government honors itself In respec
and which government Is justified In resigning
behalf Of those under It's and authority. Only h
actual resistance TO capture or refusal 10 stop Wit
ordered to do 50 for the purpose of visit could have
forded the commander Of the submarine any justine