The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-16

q HaNai NesSel OF Great britain, She
should not receive clearance as a mer-
chantman; and IL performed that duty
and enforced it's statutes with scrup-
ulous viligance through it's regularly
constituted officials. 1t Is able, there
fore. to assure the imperial German
government that 1t has been misin-
formed. III the imperial German gov
ernment should deem itself to be In
possession Of convincing evidence
that the officials of the government
OF the United States did not perform
these duties with thoroughness, the
government OF the United States sim
cerely hopes that it will submit that
evidence for consideration.
Whatever may be the contentious
OF the imperial German government
regarding the carriage Of contraband
OF war on board the Lusitania or re-
garding the explosion Of that material
by the torpedo, it need only be said
that in the view of this government
these contentious are irrelevant to the
question of the legality Of the methods
used by the German naval authorities
In sinking the vessel.
But the sinking of passenger ships
involves principles Of humanity which
throw into the background any sp scial
circumstances of detail that may be
thought to affect the case, principles
which lift 1t, as the imperial German
government will no doubt be quick
to recognize and acknowledge, out of
the class OF ordinary subjects Of diplo-
matte discussion or Of international
controversy. Whatever be the other
facts regarding the Lusitania, the
pertinent fact Is that a great steamer,
primarily and chiefly a conveyance
for passengers, and carrying more
than a thousand souls who had no
part or lot In the conduct OF the war,
was torpedoed and sunk without so
much as a challenge or a warning,
and that men, women and children
were sent to their death in circum-
stances unparalleled in modern war
fare. The fact that more than 100
American citizens were among those
who perished made it the duty of
the government Of the United States
to speak OF these things and once
more. with solemn emphasis, to call
the attention of the imperial German
government to the grave responsibility
which the government OF the United
States conceives. that 1t has incurred
In this tragic occurrence. and to the
indisputable principle upon which that
responsibility rests.
The government of the United
states Is contending for something
much greater than mere rights of
property or privileges of commerce.
II Is contending for nothing less high
and sacred than the rights Of hu-
manity, which every government hon
ors itself In respecting and which no
government Is justified In resigning
on behalf OF those under it's care and
authority. Only her actual resistance
TO capture or refusal to stop when
ordered to do so for the purpose of
visit could have afforded the COM
mander OF the submarine any justi-
hcation for SO much as putting the
iiVes or those on board the ship in
jeopardy. This principle the govern
ment OF the United States understands
the explicit instructions issued on Au-
gust 3, 1914, by the imperial German
admiralty to it's commanders at sea
To have recognized and embodied az
DO the naval codes OF all other ma
uons' and upon 1t every traveller and
seaman had a right to depend. It is
upon this principle of humanity as
well as upon the law founded upon
this principle that the United States
must stand.
The government of the United
states Is happy to observe that YOUR
exceliency's note closes with the inti-
nation that tn" imperial German gov
ernmcnt Is willing. now as before. to
accept the good offices of the United
States In an attempt TO come to an
understanding with the government of
Great Britain by which the character
and conditions of the war upon the
sea may be changed. The government
or the United States would consider
Ii a privilege thus to serve it's frie,. DIS
and the world. 1t stands ready at any
'!me to convey to either government
any intimation or suggestion the other
may he willing to have 1t convey and
cordially invites the imperial German