Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-11
The Second Note to Berlin

The Second Note to Berlin
IJAD documents descendants and were
A there a posterity OF glorious pronounce
Charter to the immortal Declaration, run
nobly down to the Emancipation Proclama-
tion and find at length a worthy scion In the
great utterance which has gone to Berlin as
the deliberate and lrrevocable position Of
people apt in the practice OF humanity and
impregnated with the principles of liberty.
THE Government of the United States is con-
tending for something much greater than
mere rights Of property or privileges of COM
merce, It is contending for nothing less high
and sacred than the rights of humanity.
which every Government honors itself in re-
specting and which no Government is justi-
ned in resgning in behalf of those under its
care and authority"
THANK God 1 am an American" every
citizen can say this day. for he is part and
parcel, bone and sinew, flesh and blood Of
this new declaration. which voices the heart
Of human aspirations, Of civilized ideals and
an unerring allegiance through famine and
sorrow. pestilence and flood, through all
vicissitudes, to those fundamental and in
herent principles without which human kind
, must sink into the pits of barbarism and
he dark cayerns of despair.
RELIES FIRST ON HUMANITY.
n is peculiarly inspiring that in this latest
note the Government brushes aside the
mere legal aspects OF the situation They
are all in our favor, the precedents, the GUS
toms. the accepted law. but in making its
representations tho United States relies first
upon the principles Of humanity" and only
secondarily on 1.-THE universally recognized
understandings OF international law" 1t ex-
presses confidence. too in the ancient
friendship of the German nation"
It has been apparent from the beginning
that the question of the legality Of the
methods employed in destroying the Lusi-
tiania was irrelevant to the main ISSUE for
"the sinking of passenger ships involves
principles of humanity which throw into the
background any special circumstances of de-
tail that may be thought to AFFECT the cases,
man Government will no doubt be quick to
recognize and acknowledge, out of the class
OF ordinary subjects OF diplomatic discussion
or OF international controversy" The princi-
pal fact is that more than thousand inno-
cent souls were sent to their death in cir
eumstances unparalleled in modern warfare"
Men may differ and many Americans do
80 far as some OF the technical elements en-
tering into that colossal tragedy are con-
eerned. but one and all. we take 1t, can cry
AYE, aye" and stand with thrilled con-
science unalterably on the proposition so
Epiendidly stated by the President
FRIENDLINEss A FEATURE OF NOTE.
AN EXCELLENT feature of the note is the
friendliness everywhere evident in IT. OF |
'Philp drunk with carnage" no impossible
demands are made. Instead, the way is left
open for Germany gracefully and easily once
more 10 put herself in line with civilization,
correct her tactics and continue her former
pleasant relations with the United States.
There is no note OF hate in the document. no
intimation OF reprisal Rather there runs
through It the thread OF sorrow ana regret:
sorrow that the outrages were ever com
Faitted snd regret that Berlin should be slow
IN rsctifyiHs, while there is yet time, her
error oFisvously have we been outraged, but
as becomes a patient people we bear no
anger in our hearts and are more concerned
about guaranuss for our future safety than
past acts
spBTERFUGE BRUSHED ASIDE
FnHE United states interprets the Ger
man reply relative to the Gushing ana the
Gginisht 70 be an acknowledgment OF the
right Of neutral ships to navigate freely ali
paFts Of the open sea, IA spite Of paper war
cones. we refuse to accept the German
lheoFy q the Falaba anair, Tor in that ease
qaeombatants were not protected in their
'tss ae . Fsquired BY the law OF nations.
Elqe s sharp reioindsr 20 the shalloW
slaiaF q Rsr.ia relative q ihs status oe
hlH ana esrsq. q ths matter 81 re Lusl-
aeeatas sironelg thai ne Ger