The Monroe journal., 1915-07-23
w here Danger Lies.
Greensboro News.

4 late Washington dispatch bear
ing upon the international situation.
is to this effect: while details as
to the course which is to be followed
are withheld. it is known that both
the President and Mr. Lansing have
practically made up their minds that
definite statement of what the con-
sequences of further violations of
American rights would be should be
given to the German government in
the next communication. There is
little discussion of the principles in
yolved.
Here we have the ultimatum, by
inference. Here we have further ad-
herance to the old system of diploma
cy, with its intimation of force and
violence. as the only means OF set
Ting disputes between nations. 1t
| Is the old system that has plunged
| the Old World into blacklist night,
the while the several rulers protested
their devotion to the cause of peace.
We do not believe the American
people understand the dangers that
confront them. They want peace,
and therefore they conclude they are
going to have peace. Only here and
| there is the situation comprehended.
Hitherto we have remarked upon the
circumstances that number of re-
| ligious bodies have taken occasion to
thank the President for his labors in
| behalf of peace. OF course there Is
| little doubt that the President desires
peace, but there is the old system.
with the manifold dangers that Turk
therein the old system that filled
Bryan with dread and drove him from
the Cabinet. The Christian Herald is
among the religious publications that
appears to sense the danger. 1t
warns: IAN issue that can involve
us in the war has been raised, and
has not yet been settled. In this
tense period of waiting. while the
people in general go about their daily
affairs with little thought of the
perils about us. the leaders Of the
public action are viewing affairs with
serious eyes, the more so because OF
the clash of opinion as to the policy
this nation should adopt. Unseen
but powerful currents of influence
are working to compel our govern
ment to stand by course of conduct
which. to say the least, does not make
for peace"
Does Not Make for Peace.
No, II cannot by any possibility,
make for peace. Our only chance for
peace Is that the President does not
entertain all the views, and that he
has not the fixed determination. at
tributed to him. If the President
does what is reported he will do. we
will be Just two, or at most, three
steps from war. barring the unfore.
seen. We will demand the ham.
stringing of the submarines. The
Germans will sink another ammun.
milton ship with few passengers In
all probability, and that will mean
war. II is worse than foolish to talk
war with the Kaiser. That is just
what the people who have tried tC
think seriously over the outlook have
tried to avoid; they do not want tt
leave IL to the German General Stat
to say whether the peace loving peo
pie of this country are to have war.
Not one American in a million ha!
any desire to ride in ammunition
ships through naval war zones, anC
there are asylums in every stat,
where the very limited number whC
do have such desire may be cared
for in comfort. Where one maj
would like to ride with the shells
there are a thousand men who woulC
like to have better market for cot
ton and other American products. II
the event of war, for such cause
the present generation would spen'
the rest Of its lives wondering wha