The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-06-18


Germany would accept the offer, but
our country should, in my judgment,
make the offer.
Such an offer, If accepted, would
at once relieve the tension and silence
all the jingoes who are demanding
war. Germany has always been a
friendly nation, and great many Of
our people are of German ancestry.
Why should we not deal with Ger
many according to this plan, to which
the nation has pledged its support?
"The second point of difference is
as to the course which should be pur-
sued in regard to Americans travel
ing on belligerent ships or with
cargoes of ammunition.
why should an American citizen
be permitted to involve his country
in war because travelling upon bel
ligerent ship when he knows that the
ship will pass through a danger zone?
The question is not whether an Amer
lean citizen has a right under inter.
national law to travel on belliger-
ent ship the question is whether he
ought not, out of consideration for
his country, if not for his own safety,
avoid danger when avoidance is pos
sible.
1T is a very one-sided citizenship
that compels government to go to
war over a citizens rights and yet
relieve the citizen of all obligations to
consider his nations welfare. | do
not know just how far the president
can legally go in actually preventing
Americans from travelling on belliger-
ent ships, but | believe the govern
ment should go as far as 1t can and
that in case of doubt it should give
the benefit Of the doubt to the govern
ment
But even If the government could
not legally prevent citizens from trav-
cling on belligerent ships, it could,
and, in my judgment, should earnestly
advise American citizens not to risk
themselves or the peace Of their coun-
try, and | have no doubt that these
warnings would be needed.
president Taft advised Americans
to leave Mexico when instruction
broke out there, and President Wilson
has repeated the advice. This advice,
in my judgment, was emlnently wise,
and | think the same course should
be followed in regard to warning
Americans to keep off vessels subject
to attack.
II think, too, that American pas
senger ships should be prohibited
from carrying ammunition. The lives
Of passengers ought not to be endan'
gered by cargoes Of ammunition
whether that danger comes from pos
sible explosions within or from pos
sible attacks from without. Passen'
gers and ammunition should not travel
together The attempt to prevent
American citizens from mourning
these risks is entirely consistent with
the effort which our government is
making to prevent attacks from sub
marines.
"The use OF one remedy does not
exclude the use of the other. The
most familiar illustration is to be
found in the action taken by munic.
ipal authorities during riot. 1t is
the duty Of the mayor to suppress the
mob and to prevent violence, but he
does not hesitate to warn citizens to
keep off the streets during the riots.
He does not question their right to
use the streets, but, for their own
protection, and In the interest OF or
der, he warns them not to incur the
risks involved in going upon the
streets when men are shooting at each
other.
THE president does not feel JUST.
fled in taking the action above staied.
That is, he does not feel Justified,
first, in suggesting the submission of
the controversy to investigation, or,
second, in warning the people not to
incur the extra hazards in travelling
on belligerent ships or in ships carry
ing ammunition.
And he may be right in the posi-
ton he has taken, but as a private
citizen am free to urge both Of these
propositions and to call public atten-
ton to these remedies in the hope Of
securing such an expression of public
sentiment as will support the presi-
dent in employing these remedies, If
in the future he finds 1t consistent
with his sense of duty to favor them"
Secretary Bryan said in giving out
his statement that, while 1t mentioned
only two particulars of difference, he
reserved many others for presentation
in the future.
At the white house Secretary Tu-
multy stated positively that no com
ment would be made on Mr.. Bryan's
statement.
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