Semi-weekly herald., 1915-03-08
ON THE EDGE OF THE MAEL-
STROM OF WAR.

grPSS is concerned, DuI we aic So"-
fronted with the possibility of the
president calling an extra session to
put through what is considered by
the greater number of American peo-
pie as the most dangerous piece OF
legislation in history. AS we have
stated on previous occasions, the Sci
entifc American has reviewed the
presidents measure with calm Judg-
ment and given reasons why it should
be defeated and while an article
written and published in the Scientific
American editorial columns when
there was a possibility of the bill be-
ing acted on at this session of con-
gress, the arguments presented are
well worth reading owing to the pos
sibility of a special session being
called, and again, because the people
should be posted regarding this in
iquitous measure, hence we commend
the following to the careful digestion
Of our readers;
The determination of President Will
son to call in all the political enginery
at his command to jam through con-
gress a bill, whose immediate effect
may well be 10 involve us in the Eu-
ropean conflict, is piece of the most
amazing inconsistency that ever
threatened to shake the public con-
fidence in the prudence and wisdom
of the executive Office.
Altogether timely and fitting and
universally approved throughout the
country was the presidents appeal to
the citizens of this country, issued
Immediately upon the declaration of
war, to preserve an attitude of the
strietest neutrality.
In the same spirit and to the same
degree that the country applauded
that manifesto, does it now stand
aghast to see its president fathering
and diligently fostering a measure
which, in its effect upon the warning
nations, may prove to be veritable
firebrand. A conflict of the titanic
nature of that now being waged in
Europe shakes the whole world to its
yery foundations. There is not ma
tion, however small, whose interests
are not affected and whose peace may
not Ultimately be endangered; and the
risk of embodiment increases proper
tionately to the size and wealth and
military and political standing of ev-
cry nation affected.
rhe United States, as by far the
largest and most important of the
;4rntries not hitherto entanglod in the
conflict, is peculiarly liable, because
lt Its far-reaching interests, to be
taugh somewhere or other in the
tols, and it is most sacred and
binding obligation upon those who
nappeh for the time being, to con-
sti.utt our government, to avoid TAX
ipg and Legislative steps which, even
in the most remote degree, might ir-
ritatc the overstrained nerves and
suscsptibilities of the great nations
engaged in this war.
Now the eagerness with which the
president is endeavoring to force his
ship purchase bill upon the country,
n due to his honest, though sadly
mistaken belief that this measure will
solve the problem Of up5uilding our
merchant marine-a question in which
fpr alary years he has taken the
deepest interest. We are willing to
civ him credit for the very highest
motives. founded, although they are,
upon totally mistaken understand
ing of. the situation. But this does
not change the fact that the bill is
the most serious menace to our peace
full relations with the warning ma
tions that has developed since the
opening of the war.
Say what they will, the sponsors
of this measure must by this time be
aware that the only possible source
from which they can hope to secure
the $4O,OO0,000 worth of shipping call
ed for is the German and Austrian
ships which are at present interned
in neutral ports. Senator Burton has
shown that the proposed partnership
of the government with corporation
is legal subterfuge, and that the
ships if they are purchased, will be,
to all intents and purposes, and GER
tainly in the eyes of international law,
the property of the United States
Certain it is, also, that
II they set sail, they will be liable
to seizure by the encmy's cruisers,
whether German, British, or French,
and equally true it is, that should
any one of these ships be found to be
carrying contraband, the United
States government would stand guilty