The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-05-13
THE LUsITANIA INCIDENT.

THE LUSITANIA INCIDENT.
The sinking Of the L%usitania has
caused a gasp of horror from the ma
ton. The press of the United States
is appalled, and is practically unant-
nous in voicing not alone it's horror,
but it's indignation. Papers which
have heretofore been noted for their
calm, judicial attitude are advocating
going to extreme measures as a result
of this fearful disaster.
The following from the Minneapo-
lis Tribune is characteristic of the
general comment Of the American
press:
1.-The news of the sinking of tho
Lusitania was received in silence. Al
they heard it, men looked at each
other and for q minute said nothing.
1t seemed incredible. Nobody would
allow himself to believe 1t.
when the confirmation came and
the mind ran quickly to that easily
imagined scene On the ocean where
two thousand lives were in deadly
peril, the horror of the situation be-
came appalling. Could it be true that
this war had developed that state of
Indifference to human life which de-
~liberately consign to death a ship
load of men, women and children for
no other reason than that they had
sailed on a commercial vessel of an
enemy country?
when ha dthe black piracy of the
seas committed so revolving an act?
And yet what were we to think after
the sinking of the Falaba, and the
loss of 121 of her innocent passengers
after them blowing up of the neutral
ship, the American vessel Gulflight,
with three of her American crew; aft
er the threat to respect no rights
when the war zone was proclaimed;
and after the German ambassador had
published warnings in American
newspapers practically announcing in
advance the purpose of the German
authorities to do this very thing?
washington is said to expect off,
cial Germany to disavow responsible
ity for this act. How that can be
done is not so easily discovered. How
are officially published warnings
not to 8 all to be disconnected
from the destruction of this ship at
sea? If these publications did not
point to a deliberate purpose to do
this thing, why were they issued?
There are some rules of what Is
called civilized warfare-some recog-
nized tacit agreements between civil
lied nations-one of which is that the
lighting shall be confined to those who
bear arms and that non-combatants
shall not be fired upon deliberately
The sinking Of the L%usitania is out
side of the rules of civilized warfare
1t makes no difference what rules
combatants may concoct to advance
their own interests or what warnings
they may see fit to utter, they connot
make rules or commit acts which VIC
\ late the common laws of humanity
and expect anything but certain con
demnation In the eyes of the world.
"The Lusitania carried hundreds o.
American citizens. That they are no
all at the bottom of the sea is not be
cause of any hesitation on the par
Of the German authorities to sent
them there. This raises new ant
greater difficulties for our govern
ment. If no lives of Americans hat
been lost the administration nigh
not have been called upon to max,
good its former notice that German,
will be held strictly accountable i
any Americans suffer harm on &C
count Of Germany's new and barbari,
rules of submarine warfare. But GU,
citizens have been sent to water,
graves, our solemn protests have bee,
insolently flouted and we are givel
to understand by this act, If we ca,
understand anything, that the Ger
man nation cares not a farthing wha
harm Americans may suffer becaus
of her peculiar methods of warfare.
1T is perhaps a fortunate thin,
that congress ia not In session. Tn
president has dealt with the diff
culties confronting him so we'll thu
far that we are encouraged to thin
that he will meet this new situatio,
wisely. He will surely take time TO
deliberate consideration, but we hav
: no hesitation in saying that he vii
I have the loyal support of the peopl
of this country In what ever cours
wise counsels may find it necessary t
pursue"
1t is a matter Of congratulation t
the nation that it's affairs are in sue
capable hands. When many of tn
country's greatest thinkers are "see
ing red" is exactly the time whe
GOODNESS is needed. The man VIII
urges people to be calm, in the fac
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