The Irish standard., 1915-05-15

seek to arouse the public passion at
this time is nothing short of GRIM
inal. The American public knows but
little of the horrors and sufferings
that form part of the daily program of
the lives of those who live in the coun-
tries engaged in the war. Surely a
reminder of war and its awful conse-
quences is not to be compared with
the inconvenience of Americans who
were asked not to sail on English
ships. The advice to remain at home
was scoffed at. Germany's blockade
in the war zone was not considered
serious. 1t is sad indeed that Ameri-
can lives should be sacrificed in order
that the seriousness of the situation
might be made apparent. America,
through the president, is declaring the
right of neutral passengers as against
the assertion of the German blockade.
So, also, has America protested in
vain against the right of neutral ship
pers of commodities intended for coun.
tries other than England and France.
Our commerce has suffered severely
because Great Britain has refused to
respect the neutral rights of Ameri-
cans. The lives of Americans have
been put in jeopardy because English
ships carry American passengers,
while, at the same time, the ships
hold contains munitions of war intend
ed to be used against the Germans.
The awful catastrophy has been a
shock to the American people. The
warnings issued by the German gov
eminent were not considered serious
ly. But the time to consider those
things is past. It now becomes the
duty of all American citizens to pa
tiently wait the proper investigation
of all that has taken place, rather
than allow their passions to be
aroused by the incident which has
occurred. The rights of the United
States as nation have been con-
stantly violated in regard to our ship
ping interests. Upon one item alone
the country is suffering very severely.
According to Senator Hoke Smith
of Georgia, who is closely observing
developments in the matter of cotton
shipments to European countries, the
next congress will be in favor of CIV
ing Great Britain the choice between
modifying her orders in council or
facing an embargo on the exporta-
tons of arms and ammunition from
the United States.
Following a discussion with state
department officials last week, the SEN
ator declared that there was no re-
course left the United States except
to resort to such means as lay within
Its power to compel the British to re-
spect the neutral rights of Americans.
1t is admitted by Senator Smith that
the proposed threat Of embargo would
be an unneutral act; but this. he as
serts. is justified by the fact that the
British are already disregarding the
neutral rights Of the United States.
According to Senator Smith, 100000
bales of American cotton are being
detained by Britishs pthorities. Much
Of this cotton, he said, was contract
ed for before the British orders-in
council went into effect, and, conse
quently, on Great Britain's own as
surances, ought to be permitted to
proceed without delay.
With reference to the sinking Of
the Lusitania, very sane discussion
of the matter appeared in an edi
torial in the Register and Leader
of Des Moines, la. The situation il
summed up as follows:
The report from Washington that
the sinking of the Lusitania is the
most serious incident the nationa
capital has faced since the beginning
of the war must have reference tt
the sentimental interest Americans
take in one of the great transatlantic
liners. rather than to anything pecu
liar to the belligerency of this par
ticular assault on English shipping.
The sinking of the Lusitania is ir
keeping with the German theory of 6
submarine blockade, and due and am
pie notice having been given that the
Lusitania would be sunk as prompt
ly as any other vessel, those who EN-
parked must be held to have EN-
barked with full knowledge of the
risk they were running, Americans at
we'll as Europeans.
II there was occasion to protest
against the German theory of sub
marine blockade that occasion was
presented when the first English boat
was sunk. For it was plain then tina,
nothing but failure of the submarine
would keep the Germans from sinking
every English boat in the waters sci
apart as hostile waters.
The United States did not 70 to
extreme lengths in protest at the time
the blockade was announced, and
teverything since that time having
come in logical order the mere fact
that big transatlantic liner, that
| was believed IN ho .u,,f% onovoh =.