New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09
All, However, Unite III
Condemning Savagery
of German Methods.
MANY CONSIDER
POSSIBILITY OF WAR
The Louisville COurier-JOurnaI
Points Out We Have Means
of Reprisal.

ca varies wildly as TO the immediate
duty Of the Administration. "The Chi
cago Tribune" says:
ITO the slaughter Of tho innoccnts in
Belgium and IN Poland has been added
the slaughter Of the innoccuts on the
Lusitania.
This last massacre violates all pew
Gus law Of the seas. It aocords with the
law Of the seas recently promulgated
by the German government and an
nounced by 1t in American newspaper
advertisements a week ago to-day the
morning on which the Lusitania sailed.
Whether the American government VIII
acquiesCe in this new German la" OF
the seas is question which viii agltate
all American hearts to-day and all days
until the decision is announced
a mere formal protest IN words, an
exchange Of notes between the state Ne
partment and the German Embassy, be
tween Ambassador Gerard and the VII
helmstrasse amounts TO nothing but
puff of wind; S tautamoun. 10 our ac-
qucscence in Gcrmany's new law OF the
seas. Let US not for one instant deceive
ourselves as 10 that. The alternative TO
words acton fraught with conSe-
quences Of incalculable horror.
"In the Lusitauia's last manifest. on
file at the New York Custom House, APP
pears the item, $40 cases Of ammunl-
ton, valued at 100000 There was
about half a million dollars worth Of
other COntrabaud of "-'. On these
facts undoubtedly Germany VIII make
such defence as II makes. We DO not
propose 70 weigh the value Dlt any OF
the defence as compared with the evil
of the deed. This Is function which
belongs to our official government, un-
der the leadership of President VII
son, and which, in a crisis as grave as
this one. should belong exclusively to
our official government.
at is not for any good American now
10 cloud its counse.S with unsought adj
vice or to attempt TO porce its decision.
We can only stand and wait, united IN
our determination TO enforce the VIII
Of our government, whatever that may
be
"Our country, In her intercourse
with foreign nations may she always
be in the right; but our country, right
or wrong"
Under the caption, "The Heart Of
Christ The Sword Of the Lord and
Gideon" The Louisville Cour,er-J our
nal" says:
THAT which The Courier-Journap
has feared which il has seen for
weeks forecasting as likely TO happen
has come TO pass. A great ocean liner
has, without chance Of escape or time
for prayer, been ruthlessly sent to the
bottom of the deep, and some thou
sand, or more, gone 20 their death,
drowned and mangled by the murder
Gus onset of a German submarine.
Truly. the nation Of the black hand
and the bloody heart has got in its
work! II has got in its work not upon
armed antagonists in fair fight on
battle front, but upon the unoticndIng
and the helpless, sailing what has al
ways been and should ever remain to
the peaceful and the peace loving,
Gods free and open sea
1.-THE Courier Journal Will not go the
length Of saying that the President
should convene Congress and advise
il 10 do declare against these bar
bariars state of war. This may vet
become necessary. While actual war
is not possible Germany having no
feet we can wipe off the briny deep
nor army near enough TO be met face
TO face and eXtcrminated yet are we
not wholly without means of rcprisal
for the murder of our citizens and the
destruction of their property There
are many German s5Vs at least two
German men -of-war in the aggregate
worth many millions Of dollars, within
our reach to make our losses repu-
dated by Germany good, and their
owners robbed by Germany whole
Ggain.
1--WE must not act either in haste or
passion. This catastrophe is too real T.
The hashlight it throws upon methods
and purposes of Germany Us too APP
palling to leave US IN any doubt what
awaits as the bloody and brutal work
goes on. Civilization should abjure its
neutrality. 1t should rise I'm one
mighty, godlike force, and as far as its
moral influence and physical appliance
can be made TO prevail, forbid the riot
of hate and debauch of blood that, like
mailman, Is running amuck among
the innocent and the unprotected"
Tho Minneapolis Journal" says:
The sinking Of the LusItauia shows
that Germany intends to Guido the bar
barians and to become the outlaw of
nations. War is horrible enough, cruel
enough, savage enough, when carried
on in accordance with civilized rules.
But, without rules, without sense Of
humanity, without respect for the
feelings and opinions Of the enhght-
/ ened peoples Of the earth, with q mega
! ton OF the teachings of religion and
! morality and law. war may be made
. Ike hell lnCarUate. II looks as though
/ this is Germany's conception of war
Germany can 60 on in the future as
in the past. Why show any heart at
all? Why feed prisoners? Why suf-
fer any form of life to stand in the
path of conquest? 1t is yet possible
/ for Germany to infect the water sup
ply Of whole cities with typhoid and
/ diphtheria germs
THE Portland Oregonan" says:
/ 1T is clear enough that the Lusi-
tania was actually IN service as a pas
senger and freight vessel, whether she
WAS armed or not. The question Of
her technical status does not alter the
I facts. Her American passengers en-
3 barked upon her for the purpose Of
/ transportation 10 England. and for no
/ other purpose, and her position before
1 the world undoubtedly was that she
was merchantmen engaged in COM
merce. and not in war.
at is a time for Calmness and eau
/ ton. II is "a solemn fact that the
/ United States is confronted with a
perilous situation, which passion will
aggravate and haste and rancor will
make desperate Whatever is 10 be
done must be done with coolness and
patriotic determination, with CON
sciousness of our national duty"
THE Kansas City STAR says:
THE melting plot has got now 10
prove that II has fused n nation. Il
IS up 70 this nation 10 stand by its
President, by It's national leaders with