Evening journal., 1915-05-18

The deep damnation OF the taking
off of the Lusitania. involving the
wanton and indiscriminate sacrifice of
hundreds of unoffending and defense
less human beings. was but the logi-
cal sequence of the course of action
which Germany had previously an
nounced. il served to demonstrate the
extremes to which the rulers Of that
nation would go in attempts TO ter
rorize other nations into submission
to its DEGREES. II exhibited Germany
to the eyes of the universe as blinded
to all sense OF Justice and deaf 10 the
call of mercy. drunken with dreams
of boundless dominion, hell bent on
rule or ruin arrogating to itself ir-
resistibility and license from Heaven
to use its name to further the works
of the devil. The horror Of this
tragedy cannot fail to convince man
kind in general that peace could find
no abiding place on earth, nor war
TO be conducted on other principles
than those of savagery, until all the
forces of civilization had been united
TO halt the wild career of this Malay
among nations running amuck among
foes and friends. and striking with
blind fury at either that Obstructs his
headlong course. Viewed technically,
the crime against humanity which
numbered among its victims so many
American citizens does not form the
basis for the strongest indictment on
which the United States may call
Germany to account. but il was the
climax OF series of outrages which
left to rejecting minds no room for
doubt that amlcable relations with
Germany on terms compatible with
the self-respect of the Washington
government could not be longer main
tanned, unless Germany should con-
sent to make full reparation so far
as 1t is humanity possible, for the out
RACES already committed and bind it.
self 10 discontinue methods OF war
fare which set at defiance the laws
OF nations and all the dictates OF
Christianity and humanity.
The note which President Wilson,
with the unanimous consent Of his
cabinet. despatched to the Ber-
lin government reflects this view
with firmness that is not to be mis-
taken. The various incidents in which
the United States has a direct concern
which have. happened in the "war
zone" proclaimed by Germany around
the British Isles and which culminat-
cd in such heavy destruction Of Ameri-
can lives OFF the Irish coast Thursday
of last week, are reviewed in detail
and their absolute indefensibility un-
der international law pointed out
While putting Germany on notice that
the usual financial reparation will be
demanded in each and every case, the
German government is given to UNDER
stand in language admitting of but
one construction that that by no
means measures the "strict accounta-
! bility" TO which it is 10 be held The
| attention of Germany is pOintedly di-
rected to the fact that the United
states has never consented to any cur
! tailment Of the right, under the law Of
nations, OF nertrals to travel 10 any
! point OF the high seas on neutral or
belligerent merchantmen. and un-
! equivocal demand is made of a guar
antee that this right viii be respect
ed in the future and that there will be
no repetition of attacks on merchant
men carrying nOn-combatants. until
and unless provision is made for the
safety of n-combatants. In conclu-
sion, the attention Of the Berlin gov
ernment is called to the earnestncss
with which the government and the
people of the United States regard
the existing situation, and no room
for rational doubt is left that the
United States will leave nothing un-
done either in diplomatic represen-
tations or other action" TO secure
such respect for its rights as il is
.I I alru c,afffIcd 70, rrprfvr