New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-17
"REMEMBER THE LUSITANlA'
Tyngo
Off ceand eEquOb international Law

| time against all the nations having VIOLATED
international law?
The duty Of the state is to employ all Il
resources and exercise all its wisdom for the
protection of the life and all the rights Of Is
every citizen and to secure adequate redress
for any wrong committed against any OF ~
citizens. But the government must also
strive to achieve these ends by every honor.
able and available means which do not ne
cessitate the sacrifice of property and life.
Only after vainly exhausting these means
may the government have recourse TO arms.
This is the law Of reason and humanity.
Just so reason and humanity demand that
where we have free choice our conduct
should be governed not by a literal adherence
10 the letter Of the law, but by the spirit and
purpose of the iaw-by the "salus populi'
This is the basis for the demand that our
government place an embargo on the expor-
tation of arms and ammunition. Honest
neutrality, equal friendship, We profe.
toward both belligerents, and, in addition,
proclaim ourselves protagonists Of humanity.
Nevertheless, because international law per-
mits our government TO do this we alloy
fellow citizens of ours to furnish the bulle.
with which one body of our friends kills IN.
other. If we withdrew this privilege. our
President holds, we should become guilty o.
partisan and therefore unneutral act, be-
cause. forsooth, it has become impossible
through the power of England's navy for q.
TO furnish bullets 10 both our friends 70 hll
each other
II in this matter we dare not 60 beyond
the international law, nor even TO avail our
selves Of the freedom granted by that law
and obey the behests Of humanity, with Vns'
show Of right may we then make any appeal
70 humanity?
"The love Of money is the root OF sI
evil" says 81. Paul. II we possess the eeur'
age to be honest must We not then confess
that in the last analysis love Of money |"
both the cause Of the present terrible war
and of our own failure to obey the behe'e
of humanity in putting stop 70 the ef
portation Of arms and munitions?
The women and children killed By the
sinking of the Lusithnia, you say, appeal nov
to nationality, but TO humanity. Is not th''
true, too, of the soldiers of friendly nation
killed by the bullets furnished By friendly
nation. Of the wounded and bleeding hearH
of the mothers, wives and children OF tnos'
soldiers and of all the poor throughout ~s
territory of the Teutonic powers, who, though
non-combatants, are subjected 20 all 'n'
pangs of hunger and the torment OF impena'
ing starvation?
Humanity does not call upon Us 10 increas'
the worlds misery, but IL does call upon "
to make every effort to end the awful sls1sn'
ter Of those who ought to stand together o.
brothers and unite their forces in ADVANCING
the worlds civilization and the wellbeing Of
all mankind.
Since we and all other neutral nations are
subjected 70 all manner of suffering By tnh
horrible war, no one can deny Il 70 be oo'
right 20 unite in demand on the belige''
cnts TO declare truce and 20 meet with ou'
representatives to find an equitable, peaees'
bic and peace-insuring settlement OF the ~
sues which have precipitated this monstr0o'
and woful clash. II this demand is refused
or refusal is made by any one nation or eo'1
bination of powers 70 abide by the verdict @
such conference, a verdict based on Iusu.'
and securing TO all nations like protection u
their equal rights and opportunities eomme".
surate with their undeniabe needs, then ~
US bravely draw our swords in behalf OF IO'
tice and humanity.
WILLIAM F. sCHoENFELD'
New York Dec II 1915