TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-05-28
Cincinnati Enquirer May 9th.
ASSERTING, MAINTAINING AND
PROTECTING OUR COMMERCIAL
RIGHTS.

For many months this nations com
mcree with the neutral countries o.
the world has been yexed, harried an
curtailed by the unjust orders, cxac
tions and actions OF bclligerent powers
Having cast International law tc
the winds and substituted orders o
Admiralty, our vessels bound from oui
ports to neutral ports have been stopped
by cruisers and submarines, seized and
taken into British and French ports
and many Of these vessels, their car
goes and their crews, are yet In thoss
ports, held captive by the forces OF
these belligerent powers.
Such procedure has no place in thi.
twentleth.century code OF information
relations.
Our Government should take prompt
and decisive action TO end once and 70.
all this tyranny oil the seas when prac
tised by any belhgerent power.
Because Germany is at war witt
Great Britain and France there exist.
no reason why our trade with Spain or
Holland or Sweden or any other neu'
tral country should be supervised b.
Germany, either on sea or on land.
Because Great Britain, France, Bel
gium, Russia and Japan choose TO war
on Cerinany--what right does that give
any Of those nations to say what our
vessels shall carry or not carry to and
from our country to Holland, Den.
mark, Norway or Swedeni
Why should any belligerent power
he allowed TO seizc vessels flying our
flag, OF vessels flying the flag OF am
neutral country, bound from our ports
with cargoes from our country destined
for ports Of other neutral eountriesl
Why should our trade with suc'i
neutral countries be under inspection,
supervision and control of any belli.
gerent rower'
1t is time that tie commercial in.
dependence Of our ocean trade with
neutral countries be asserted, main.
tanned and defended by the Government
OF the United States No preccdents OF
the dark ages need be cited by belligc-
rent powers as indicating such right or
privilege in them.
There can be no defense OF such
action in the light Of the civilization OF
the twentieth century, Might has too
long subordinated right, both upon land
and upon sea. That precedent we re-
ject. The United States is not TO be.
come q vassal OF Great Britain or
France, or Germany, or OF any other
power that choose to go to war and
then attempt TO instruct our Govern.
ment and our citizens what they shall
buy from and sell % the people OF other
neutral and peaceful countries.
The Government Of the United States
should at once notify every offending
Delligerent power that it viii consider
il hostile act TO seize our vessels, or
our cargoes, under our own flag, or our
cargoes under any neutral flag, bound
for neutral port, and our Government
should at once accord our vessels and
our cargoes its iuil protection.
Our protest las been lodged with
the allies for full four weeks and more
than 20 OF our cargoes are stIll lying
captive in allies ports.
The time for protest is past. II is
time for decisive action for the indepen.
dence and freedom OF our foreign com
merce.
The meat packers gather in Wash.
ingtou to complain; the Representatives
and Senator's Of the cotton states have
been complaining and protesting Tor
These are but symptoms Of the ma
tional i'll.
The throwing Of the tea into the har
Dor at Boston WAS not because Of dis
like Of the tea, but Of the determine.
ton Of the people Of the colonies 20
resist the stamp tax. Neither cotton,
nor grain, nor meat, nor copper, nor
coal, nor oil, nor gasoline, nor anything
else We produce, manufacture or have
for sale but We should be free TO send
across the seas to neutral countries
without obtaining eonsent or approval
from any belligerent foreign power.
Commerce between neutrals must be
free and unrestricted by any belligerent
power.
No other rule can prevail II neutral
nations would remain free and indepen-
don't. The Government OF the United
States should do Its duty in asserting,
maintaining and protecting our com.
meree with other peaceful nations.
@ieberieben i'm Selbe.
Qo., 4. % . .. NJ . ., 4, .