Evening journal., 1915-05-15
President Wilson'S Message
(From the New York Trlbune.)

ticc, the incontroyertible right of the
American case. should turn to those
sentences in the Presidents message
which cover the demands of the ma
tion, the conditions under which the
American people can continue TO live,
not on terms of friendship, but of
international amity, with the German
nation.
In this they will not he disappoint-
ed. Those who feared Mr.. Wilson
would shrink from the reluctant duty
will find no confirmation of their ap-
prehei1sion in the text Of his message.
Let Germany disavow the acts, make
full reparation, so far as possible for
past wrongs and injuries, take inn
mediate steps to prevent their recur-
rence-this President Wilson de-
mands. These are the conditions;
failing these: "The Imperial German
Government will not expect the gov
ernment of the United States to omit
any word or any act necessary TO the
performance of its sacred duty of
maintaining the rights of the United
States and its citizens and of safe
guarding their free exercise and en-
ioyment"
Reading these concluding lines,
many thousands of American citizens
will this morning recall the words
written on the stone on Lexington
Green where all American history be-
gan: Don't fire unless fired upon;
If they want war, let them begin it
here"
In this spirit. without one sugges-
ton Of turbulence. violence, chauvin-
ism, President Wilson has reiterated
to the German Government the words
of Captain Parker on April 49, 1775,
the determination, the unshaken de-
termination. of a people neither seek
ing nor desiring conflict to defend the
rights and the principles for which
Americans have never hesitated to
( fight.
OF the balance Of the note il is nee
essary to speak now only in passing
The assertion that the submarine
warfare as conducted by German
naval officers is contrary to all prin-
ciples of international law. all con-
siderations of humanity. is a final
assertion that the United States does
not and will not recognize the sub
marine blockade. The fine scorn
with which the President disposes Of
the Bernstorff warning is calculated
to penetrate the epidermis of a rhin-
ocerous, even If it fails to pierce the
skin of German craftsmanship.
But questions of detail are of lit
tie moment now. 1t is only import
ant TO note that the President of the
/ United States, performing a high and
almost tragic duty. has acted with
calm, statesmanlike directness. de-
served we'll of his own nation and
earned the respect of the world.
AS to the German Government and
the German people, there can be no
Amrican who does not honestly and
earnestly trust that the way that the
President has opened for them will
be followed. Deep as is our anger,
nationwide as is our indignation, not
yet do Americans desire to make war.
and not from mere desire to avenge
our murdered fellow citizens are we
anxious to take up arms again. But
there could be no more fatal error
than that of mistaking our temper,
our purpose, our long history Wrong
ed. we have offered Germany a peace
/ full solution in the present crisis. but
and the Presidents message sums
i all up-iwe Shall omit neither
word nor act necessary to the per-
formance of our sacred duty. the duty
of protecting American life and de-
Tending American rights, American
liberties, on sea as on land.