The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-12

IL confidently expected that the ex-
tensive powers conferred by the order
In council on the executive officers OF
the crown viii be restricted by orders
issued by the Government directing
i the exercise OF their discretionary
powers In such a manner as to modify
in practical application those provi-
sions OF the order in council, which.
| IL strictly enforced. would violate neu-
trail rights and interrupt legitimate
| trade. Relying on the faithful per-
| Torrance OF these voluntary assur-
ances by His Mejesty's government,
| the United States takes IL for granted
that the approach of an alien mer-
! chairman to neutral ports situated
upon the long line of coast affected
/ by the order In council will not be in
terfered with when 1t is known that
! they do not carry goods which are
eontraband of war or goods destined
TO or proceeding from ports within the
belligerent territry affected"
VIII Insist on Position.
There is no doubt that our Govern
ment will insist upon this position:
that is an important thing. The exact
date of the note is not Inaterial. nay
reason for desiring to have the matter
presented to Great Britain at once
was not that Germany had any right
to ask IL but because / was anxious
to make IL as easy as possible for
Germany to accept the demands of the
United States and cease TO employ
submarines against merchantmen
There is no reason why any German
American should doubt the Presi-
dents intentions in this matter, ! am
sure that every one will. on reflection
recognize that our duty to prevent
loss Of life is more urgent than our
80 logs nf fra6a--lOSS OF
trade can be compensated for with
money. but no settlement that the
United states and Germany may reach
can call back to life those who went
down with the ,Lusitania-and war
would he the most expensive OF all
settlements because 1t would neor-
mousiy add to the number OF dead
Can Trust Americans 10 Deal Justly;
FOURTH hope that Germany VIII
acquiesce In the demands that nave
been r1asiP and hope that she VIII
! rt,s,1e~ee I'M them without conditions.
she ean trust the United States TO deal
Justly with her in the consideration OF
any changes that she may propose IN
the international rules that goven the
taking of prizes. The more generous
ly she acts in this matter the greater
will be the glory which she Will ue-
rive frorn IL, She has raised a ques-
ton which In now receiving serious
consideration. namely. whether the IN
.roauctton OF the submarine neces-
States any change in the rules gov
erninx the character of prizes. Tne
position seemingly taken by Germany.
namely. that she In entitled to drown
inoncombatants because they ride with
contraband. L. an untenable position;
the most that she could insist upon Is
that. in view of the Introduction or
this new weapon of warfare, new rules
should be adopted separating pas
sengers from Objectionable cargo. II
: the use Of the submarine JUSTIFIED
such a change in the law of blockade
as will permit the Gordon To be with
drawn far enough from the shore 10
avoid the danger of submarine at
tack. may II not be found possible TO
secure an international agreement oy
which passengers will he exciudeo
from ships carrying contraband. or
at least from those carrying ammuni-
tionr IT would require but slight
changes in the shipping laws TO make
this separation. and beligerent nations
might be restrained from unneces-
sarilv increasing the contraband list
Iff they we're compelled to carry con-
lfraband on transports as they now
carry troops. Personally, / would
like to see the use of submarines
ahandonaA entirely. just as I would
like TO see an abandonment OF the
| ,,se of aeropIanes and Zeppeiins for
1.-The carrying OF explosives, but / am
| not sanguine enough to believe that
any effective instrument OF warfare
will be abandoned as long as war con-
ltinues The very arguments which
the advocates % peace have against
the submarine. the aeroplane and the
Zeppelin are advanced In favor OF
then, by those who conduct war. The
more fatal a weapon ~ the more II Is
In demand and It In not an unusual
thing TO see a new instrument OF de-
struction denounced as inhuman by
1 those. against whom II lis employed,
only 10 be employed later by those
who only little while before de-
nounced IL.
Address to All NaturAfzed Citizens.
1 The above sentiments are respect
| fully submitted to those of German
birth or descent. and they are sub
mitted in the same spirit to natural
| lied citizens from other countries. To
| the naturaIized citizen this Ia the land
of adoption. but in one sense IL may
| be nearer to him than IT as to us,
who are American-born. for those
who come here are citizens by volun-
tary cnoNe wniIe VIC are mere ny 0t'
OF birth. They may be said to have
paid a higher. compliment to the
| United States than we who first saw
/ the light under the stars and stripes:
! hut more than that, II d. the land OF
their children and their children's
children. no matter for what reason
they crossed the ocean. They NOT
only share with us the shaping OF our
nation's destiny. but their descend
ants have a part with ours in all the
/ blessings which the present genera
.sou can. be- wise and patriotic ec-
ton. beaueatn TO the generations that
/ are To fellow
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.