The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-06-17

lNlAfh llN NthANN'N WIN ''ANi'N
lous viligancr through It's regular
~ constituted officials. II is able
therefore. 10 assure the imperial
German government that II has
been miSinformed
Ii the imperial German govern
ment should deem itself 10 be- IN
possession of convincing evidence
that the officials of the govern
mcnt of the United States did not
perform these duties with thor
oughneSS, the government of the
United States sincerely hopes that
II will submit that evidence for
consideration.
Whatever the contentious of
the Imperial German government
regarding the carriage OF contra
band of war on board the Lusl-
tania, or regarding the explosion
of that material by the torpedo, II
need only be- said that IN the view
of this government these c0nten-
tions are irrelevant ia the ques-
ton of the legality of the meth
dds used by the German naval
authorities in sinking the vessel
But the sinking OF passenger
ships involves principles of human
ny which throw into the back
ground any special circumstances
Of details that may be thought To
affect the eases, principles which
lift Il. as the imperial German
government will no doubt be
quick Ia recognize and aeknowl-
edge. out of the ease or ordinary
subjects of diplomatic discussion
or of international controversy.
Whatever be- the other facts re-
garding the Lusltanla, the prln-
clpal fact is that a great steamer,
primarily and chiefly a convey
ance for passengers, and carry
more than a thousand souls who
had no part or lot in the conduct
of the war. was tOrpedord and
sunk without 50 much AS chal
lengc or q warning. aud that men,
women and children were sent TO
their death IN circumstances un-
paralleled ia modern warfare.
The fact that more than 100 \
mcrican citizens We're among
those who persisted made II the
duty of the government of the
government of the United States
10 speak of these things aud once
more. with solemn emphasis to
call the attention of the imperial
German government TO the grave
responsibility which the govern
mcnt of the United States con.
celyes that It has incurred IN this
tragic occurrence, and 10 the in
diSputable principle upon which
that responsibility rests. The
government of the United States
is cOntending much greater than
mere rights OF property or priv
lcgcs of commerce.
It is contending for nothing
less high and sacred than the
rights Of humanity, which every
government honors itself ia re
Specting and which no government
is justified in rcSigning on behalf
of those under its care aud auth
GRITTY Only perpetual resistance
10 capture or refusal 10 stop when
ordered to do 50 for the purpose
Of visit could have afforded the
commander Of the submarine any
justification for so much as put
ting the lives of those on board
the snip IN jeopardy rms prlncl-
Pile the government of the United
States understands the explicit
Instructions issued on Aug. I.
1914, by the imperial German adj
mlraliy 10 It's commanders at sea
10 have recognized and embodied,
AS do the naval codes of all other
nations, and upon it every travel
or and seaman had right 10 de
pend. IL is upon this principle of
humanity, as well rs upon the
law founded upon this principle,
that the United States must
stand.
The government of the United
States is happy 10 observe that
your excellency's note closes
with the intimatiOn that the i'm
perial German government is will.