Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-15
Backed by All Americans

THE lingo press-represented just now by
the New York Herald and some feeble
imitators Observation-Disclosures disappoint-
ment with the tone Of the Presidents note to
Germany, while the anti-British press thinks,
III the language of one Of its representatives,
that the note goes 80 far beyond the plainly
and soundly rightfu scope of American de-
mands as to invite rebuff" Between these
two extremes stands the great body of
patriotic and intelligent newspaper opinion.
North and South, East as we'll as West in
dorsing without qualification every ringing
declaration the note contains.
The Presidents words are all they should
be and nothing they should not be. In them
there is no single trace of either buster or
recession They make vocal the heart of
our country, bleeding from an intolerable
wrong, but willing still that Germany shall
make reparation, so far as PREPARATION is pos
sible, for injuries without measure" They
remind the rulers of Germany's destiny that
this government will omit no "act necessary
10 the performance of it's sacred duty of
maintaining the rights Of the United States
and its citizens, and Of safeguarding their
free exercise and enjoyment"
In substance and effect, the demands made
on the German government are these:
/. That it will disavow the acts of its sub
marine commanders, that have resulted in
the destruction of American life
,. That 1t will make such reparation as
can be made for these officers crimes.
3. That it will abandon method of war
fare 1.-The natural and necessary effect of
which is to subject neutral nations and neu-
trail persons to new and Unreasonable risks"
There is not line or word OF these de-
mands the country would have stricken out,
ror line word that ought to be added.
There is way out for Germany, but it would
be disngenuous to contend that way is
either simple or easy 1t involves repudia-
ton of officers for conduct identical with that
for which they their brothers in rank
have been decorated with the Iron Cross. 1t
involves a complete surrender of the one
weapon in the German armory with which it
has been possible in any real sense to carry
the war into britain. 1t involves full re-
traction OF all the high sounding insinceri-
ties with which Germany has sought to JUS
tify her course
II Germany is willing on our demand and
without qualification, TO make these conces-
sions and TO give suitable guarantees against
the repetition of offenses of which she has
been guilty. peace will be preserved. There
VIII ne no sundering even of diplomatic rela-
tons II will be possible for us to keep our
diplomatic representatives in Germany and
Belgium where they afford partial protection
10 captive soldiers of the allied armies and to
an oppressed civil population. On these con-
dltionS and in this view Of the case the over
whelmtng majority Of Americans would well
come a peaceful solution.
Decision rests with the Kaiser and his adj
Visers. The war will be decided, probably
before the United States could make a sub
stantial contribution to the result Fear will
not control the German action. 1t may be,
however, that beated consciousness OF
iniquity and a belatcd recognition of the
universal loathing and horror the sinking OF
the Lusitania has excited in every neutral
land, will induce abandonment OF practices SO
dishonorable to an enlightened people
There are those as we have said before
who expect this outcome. We do not 1t
seems inconceivablc to us that Germany can
meet the demands the President makes
That, though, is for her to decide The
issue now is in her hands. We shall abide IT,