The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-06-04

Our Wranale With Germany.

/ is being very generally discussed By
our people Most o. them stand firm
/ " behind the president, but a small
minority differ with him. Unfort
unately there is a great deal OF
/ ignorance about the real questions
involved, and many people either ap-
plaud or condemn the president
position without understanding the
real issue. Generally those who take
the German view Of il ignore the facts
and the reasons OF the president, and
discuss it solely upon the merits OF
the quarrel between England and
Germany. a thing that has nothing 20
do with it at all. And some OF the
presidents supporters pitch their dis
cussion on the same key.
The Germans have, within the last
few days. admitted the business of
the presidents demands with regard
TO the iorpedoing Of the Gulflight, and
have apologized and will pay an in
demnity. But the Lusitania case is
still in dispute.
The president plants himself upon
international law, which gives the
warships of a nation at war the right
TO destroy the merchant and pas.
senger vessels Of the opposing ma
tion, but only after providing for the
safety of the crews and passengers.
Germany does not come out with a
fiat-footed denial OF this claim, but
attempts TO avoid her liability, by
denying the facts as represented N
the American note, and asking delay
until the truth of it's assertions can
be investigated The German reply
charges that the Lusitania was an
armed ship. and was carrying Can
adian soldiers. These charges are
made. however, with little hope that
they can be established, but delay
until investigation could be made
would be very welcome to them just
now.
These charges are in themselves a
grave reflection upon our government,
as they imply that our president
acted in the dark, and that our Of
ficials were corrupt and were violating
the laws of neutrality. The collector
of the port of New York, Dudley
Fird Malone, one of the most hon.
orable men in the country, certifies
that the vessel was inspected and
carried no arms, or rather was not
armed with cannon, as asserted in
the German note. No armed ship Of
any of the belligerents is allowed to
leave an American port, and for the
Lusitania TO have been armed, would
have been a violation OF our laws, and
a gross violation of duty by our of
ficials.
OF course. the charge that Cana
dian soldiers were aboard was not
made in earnest, for our government
does not permit them TO enter the
United States, much less sail for Eng
land from an American port.
The presidents contention is that
the sinking of the vessel under the
circumstances was a plain violation
of international law as well as the
laws of humanity. This would have
been the case had there been on one
aboard except English citizens, but
it would not have been the affair OF
our government The point is this:
that under International law, as well
as the laws OF humanity, the crew and
passengers Of the Lusitania should
have been saved, or the ship should
all there is to it, Germany does not
in terms deny this, except that she
attempts to place it on a different
basis She claims the Lusitania had
mounted cannon on board, and was
carrying Canadian soldiers to Eng
land. Either OF these charges would
of course take her out of the class Of
merchant vessels, and justify, legally,
her sinking. But our government will
not admit this.