Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-25
We Shall Not Barter for Our Rights


DUBL1C opinion will support the Govern
L ment in it's decision TO take no further
action relative to English interruption Of our
neutral trade until Berlin has replied to the
Lusitania note. We have no desire to vindi
cate our rights by barter. That Germany
shall respect our privileges on the high seas
is a matter between Germany and US alone.
The same is true Of any situation which has
arisen or may arise in our relations with
Great Britain.
Nevertheless, It has been apparent for
weeks that a firm protest was imminent
against the aggression Of England I'm
doubtedly public sentiment in this country
is overwhelmingly in favor OF the Allies. For
the Government however there can be no
wise policy except a course Of absolute neu-
trality, to be maintained as rigidly now as
it was in washington's time, when that
great President refused to be coerced and
stood fat-footed in the middle Of the road
The Government must protest against in
vasion Of our rights, no matter what
tion is the aggressor. This 1t did in Napo-
leonic times, when the United states went
to war first with France and then with
England in each case in defense of our
marine and in vindcation Of the rights of
neutrals on the high seas.
It is true that there is no international
law left. 1t has been torn to shreds. That
may be all right as between belligerents,
but we can recognize no system of law,
unapproved by ourselves and brought into
being by the contesting nations for their
own selfish purposes. So far as we are con-
cerned our rights are what they were be-
fore the war began We shall be bound by
all the restraints then recognized to be JUS
tifabe, by all the precedents long estab-
llshed but we refuse utterly to be driven
into a hole by the necessities of European
belligerents and made the victim of their
quarrels
The Allies like the Germans, in open
defiance OF international law on the high
seas. They are maintaining a long distance
blockade, itself an unprecedented expedlent,
not only OF Germany but also of neutral
ports They interrupt our trade with Scandi-
navian countries. They have put all Europe,
except their own ports, under a veto. and
assume to dictate to us with whom we shall
and with whom we shall not deal. They
prevent trade in foodstuffs intended for nom
combatants In word, they claim the
oceans as their private highways. to be
governed by them as they see fit.
1t is no answer to say that our trade is
greater than 1t was before the war. OF
course It Is, and 1t would be much greater
still were it not lawlessly interfered with.
But the volume OF trade has nothing to do
with the case. It is the principle which is
involved a principle of such vital moment
to the United States that it cannot be
ignored.
The Government will not let It's. hand be
forced by meat packers or cotton growers.
Their interests are but incidental to the
main issue 1t is highly important. how
ever that when the clear eyes Of posterity
examine this era they shall find that we
took stand with neither side. that we pro-
tested against the invasion of our rights by
either, without regard to the exIgencies of
their national peril. that we were truly neu-
trail according to the letter and the spirit
of the law.
We must stand for the safety of our cti-
zens and the freedom OF our trade. To both
we are committed by all law, written or un-
written, and in neither can we be negligent
without betrayal OF our prestige and our
standing In the world.