Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-09
Without Mercy or Pity

THE horror and the crime of the Lusi-
tania's sinking grow as the hours pass,
and survivors, fresh from that dreadful
scene, describe the callous brutality of those
who planned and wrought and the last
agonies Of those who suffered and died.
Men, women and little children were this
wholesale murders Victims sacrificed with
out mercy or pity on the red affairs of Ger
manys tribal god
Thor, not Jehovah. forged the thunderbolt
and to Thor, not Jehovah, ascend the wild
publications with which Berlin received the
tidings that the bolt had found its mark
State Departments and newspapers, leaders
everywhere and In every walk of life, may
exhort America to be patient and be calm
but no eXhortation still the resentment
that this outrage causes nor quiet people
moved and stirred to the depths of their
being by this bastard blow
It'll no time for too much patience. Am
bassador Gerard has been instructed already
tc demand Of the German government a full
explanation of the tragedy, but 1t would be
idle to expect that the explanation will be-
accompanied by condemnation of the crime
or promised punishment of the criminals
with what less we be satisfied?
Weeks ago President Wilson warned Ger
many she would be held Ito a strict account
ability If in pursuance Of her war zone de-
cree and the thinly-veled threat it conveyed
she destroyed American lives Well Ger
many has carried out her threat. What are
we going to do about it?
/ 1t is true that this last and greatest out
rage has been preceded by others, less
atrocious only in the number of victims
When the Faaba sunk by submarine
which fired on the boats in which passengers
and crew sought escape, American citizen
was slain. week ago the Ameri an steam
ship Guliight, flying the Stars and Stripes
was torpedoed and three lives taken in toll
still later German aeroplane dropped three
bombs on the American ship Cushing officers
and crew escaping by what approached
miracle.
There those--and among them some in
high positions-who see in these attacks an
act of war against the United States There
are those who believe Germany actually de-
slres to provoke hostilties with this coun-
try, or at least laughs al power and is in
different to our resentment. There is every
evidence that she remains unmoved under
our protests, and that no words Of ours will
or can swerve her from that path of dread
fulness' in which she has set her feet
For the rights Of neutrals, for the lives of
noncom ba tants she has nothing but con-
temptuous scorn. Get out of my road ="
she says to mankind 'or feel the edge of the
sword" and the road of which she speaks
is that great ocean highway on which the
al gosies Of commerce and peace walk ND and
down III the earth.
No man with brains in his head or heart
in his bosom can fail to realize the serious
ness Of our present positon-how close we
are TO that final step which would carry us
across the line. In such an hour, sober re-
straint is an imperative duty. National unity
is another, for in the face OF the cataclysm
that mpends, or at least menaces, we stand
together and with unbroken ranks.
we snail be as CT I'm as we can, and reso-
lutte, because we must. Above ALL let the
nation be thankful and give praise that
Woodrow Wilson sits in the presidential chair
and holds his country's honor and safety in
the strong, clean loving hands of a statesman
and patriot.