Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-24
Germany mt the Bar

n RESIDENT WILSON. in the note now in
the hands OF the German government. and
made public this morning. has closed the door
further discussion OF the rights Of neu-
trails on the high seas. On that subject there
is TO be no moro talk. Speaking with the
voice of his people. as we'll as with the voice
OF humanity. the President tells Germany
that neutral prcroga tivcs. wrung by cviliza-
ton from bar ba risnl. must he respected. and
that repetition by the commanders of Ger
man naval vessels of acts in contravention Of
those rights must be regarded by the govern
mcnt Of the United States. when they affect
American citizens. as deliberately unfrendly."
These words amount TO an ultimatun.
Germany must sink no more unarmcd and
unrcsisting merchantmen. Staying. without
warning and without mercy. their passengers
and crews. Should she do so, and American
property lives be sacrificed to this new
"frightfulness." the ancient friendship be-
tween Germany and this country will be
severed automatically.
Germany must decide. by her observance
or violation Of the rules of civilized warfare,
or by her skill in combining later atrocities to
will keep the peace with the United States.
No American life. the President again de-
cares. shall be sacrificed to the attainment
OF German vengeance.
Skillful advantage is taken in the note OF
Berlin's admission that the destruction of
the l.usitania and kindred submar ine exploits
were acts OF reprisal and. therefore, ultra
legal. However justified reprisals may be,
when their victims subjects Of nation
with which Germany is at war. they are says
the President. ''manifesty indefensibe. when
they deprive neutrals Of their acknowledged
rights and particularly when they violate the
right to life itself" And therefore, the note
repeats that the government OF the United
States cannot believe that the imperial Ger
man government will longer refrain from dis
avowing the wanton act Of Its naval com
mander in sinking the Lusitana or from
offering reparation for the American lives
lost. so far as reparaton can be made for
needless destruction OF human life by an
illegal act
In this there is insistence sufficiently firm
on the original request for formal repu,iia-
ton by Germany Of the crime of the Lusi-
lama ana Tor such redress of that wrong as
the nature OF the case admits
Chief emphasis is laid. however. on the de-
mand that there shall be no repetition Of the
outrage Germany may suit herself AS TO the
manner OF her acquiescence, but there is 10
be no more quibblng. Her clumsy offers OF
compromise rejected with the fnality
they invited. Hereafter. so far as the people
OF the United States are concerned she must
respect the law--or take the consequences
There is no buster in the Presidents note
and there is none in the heart OF America
War with Germany or with any other country
however great the provocation. is thing
hideons to contemplate Its cost In blood md
treasure, however the careless-m may
think 10 evade payment would rack the soul
of people whose ways are ways of peace
But there is one thing more hideous II is
that disgraceful yielding TO wrong and oppres-
sion which makes freedom a mockery and
peace the badge OF shame.