The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-03-25

the battleship Oregon, who made
two descents in a diving suit.
the FuTlllTY OF AN EMBARGO
Certain classes and individuals
are doing all in their power to
persuade the government to place
an embargo on the shipment of
the products of this country to
Europe so long as this war lasts.
They are urging especially that
such an embargo be enforced
against the shipment of food
stuffs, especially wheat. Their
great claim is that such an en-
barge would force Europe to
grant our claims in the present
shipping controversy and also
keep our supply Of foodstuffs in
this country and so reduce the
present high cost of living, which
has become such a public qucs-
ton in recent years. Let US look
into the history of this embargo
business before we decide that we
want it. THIS country has had CA
rerience III emDlrgoes, and that
embargo history is both interest
ing and Instructive.
In the beginning of the E:ne-
teenth century France and Eng
lanG were at war with each 9th II,
much as the leading nations of
Europe are at war with each other
fn.jay EprIoDl ri.ol.,noI n L,l,al-
ade against all the ports of
France, as she has declared
against Germany today. France
retaliated by declaring a similar
blockade against Great Britain.
as Germany has done today. Each
declared that if necessary they
would seize and contiscate all
ships headed toward the enemy's
ports, to prevent the cargoes from
reaching its enemy. Then, as now,
Americas shipping was the prin-
-cipal one affected by these block
AIDES.
The American party in power at
that time had dismantled the navy
and the few warships we had left
were tied up in ports-were in
need OF. repairs and were Of no
benefit whatever. as they were
either out Of commission entirely
or lacked adequate crews and
equipment. The navies of the
warning nations could do to US
whatever they liked. and we had to
grin and bear tive could not
enforce our just rights in the mat
ter at all. Long winded and ted
ious negotiations were entered in
to with the warning nations in an
attempt to gain our rights by
peaceful means, but to no avail
whatever.
Finally the President adopted
what he considered to be the last
resort as a solution of the trouble.
He had issued an embargo law
prohibiting the shipping OF goods
of any kind out of or into the
United States. Any ship loaded at
any OF our ports was required To
give a heavy bond that the cargo
would be shipped to some other
American port and not to any for
eien port. The President knew
that 1t was a grave step, but he
stated his reasons as follows:
MY principle is that the conven-
fence of our citizens should yield
reasonably, and their taste great
ly,- to the Importance of giving
the present experiment so fair
trial that on future occasions our
legislators may know with GER
tainty how far they may count on
it as an engine for national pur-
poses" The purpose for which it
was used at that time was a sub
stitute for war in enforcing our
rights with foreign nations. The
Presidents personal influence was
so strong throughout the country
that, as whole, the people sub
mitted to the difficulties growing
out Of the embargo in order that
the thing might be given full
and fair trial.
They found out all right how
unsuccessful a means of national
retaliation it was; they also found
out how grievous was the result
on our own people. The expert
ment proved that our own people
suffered far mre than did the
the countries against which the
embargo was enforced as a means
of retaliation. The farmers of the
country suffered more than any
other class Of our people. There
was no market for the surplus
which was produced on our
farms; it literally rotted in the
bins and granaries. The agricul-
tural industry of the country, the
foundation of all others, was
hanErunfo6 Tho South ord 1,,bo1