The Marietta journal and courier., 1915-09-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington City,

There may be now and then a
temporary war cloud appearing on
the horizon, but l do not think they
will amount to much | believe the
common sense of this country, coupl-
ed with its patriotism will stir us to
the roadatead clear of shoals and
reefs.
l do not believe from the best
that | can gather, from interviews
with representative people, that the
severance Of our relationship with
Germany will occur. Germany's
offences so far are largely along the
line of natural consequences when
you take into consideration the
causes that inspired them. Then
another reason why it is hardly prob
able that diplomatic negotiations
will be stopped is, because at heart
there is a warm feeling between
America and Germany, and | do not
believe that two nations with the
each other will allow ordinary oc-
currences of minor significance
which are largely unavoidable by
reason of their close proximity to
what may be justly termed natural
results; therefore, / take an optimis-
tic view of the situation today and
believe as firmly as | do anything,
not to absolutely know it, that the
wisdom, the sagacity and the re-
markable cool-headedness of the
President will meet and discuss the
situation in a way that finally tur-
bulent waves will aubside and the
passion, if there be any for a quarrel,
will abate and normal conditions will
be resumed between America and
Germany.
There is another thing that the
American people should take under
consideration. and that is, England's
threat to starye Germany by gener-
al embargo on the shipment of food
stuffs to Germany from neutral ma
tions. Just imagine a family receiy-
ing the declaration that certain of
the neighbors were going to cut off
their food supply, how furious that
family would become at once at such
threat confronting them.
The only thing that Germany could
do was to retaliate and the only
way she could retaliate is the one
she resorted to. : / do not say that
that one is successfully effective, but
it has at least, accomplished few
things in that it has given Great
Britain considerable annoyance.
1t is appalling and deplorable that
American lives should have been lost
on some of those ships that went
down, and again American citizens
should have exercised more precau-
tion than to have embarked on ships
frought with such jeopardy; besides,
we should not take voyages across
the ocean when the most pronounced
thing we have is the fact that our
lives are hazarded in the taking of
the voyage.
We have had ample cooling time,
and American people should take
these grave questions under serious
advisement, largely putting them
selves in the places of those affected
by conditions as they exist. 1t is no
time for impetuosity; no time for err
ratio expressions. Times like these
demand cool, conservative procedure
1t would be the gravest mistake the
American people have ever made to
become mixed up with this world of
war. The offenses so far committed
against us are too trifling to be con-
templated for moment upon the
idea of going to war.
The Southern people should turn
their undivided and unanimous at
tention to making demands, or ra-
ther requesting the powers of this
country to put forth their demands
in an endeavor to open up the Euro
pean cotton markets for our this
years crop. Disaster and business
paralysis will be spelled in large let
ters if at thS proper time the mar
kets for our greatest crop are com
paratively closed, when farmers be-
gin the marketing of this crop.
Let us proceed with prudence and
agree to Disagree upon the issue sur
rounding the European war, leaving
them out of our domestic affairs as