New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-04
Crush Out German Terrorism

Washington acted in both cases under
the same Indictment. He was in both in
stances the agent Of the same propaganda
of the same spirit of turbulence and vio-
lence which the world has come to asso-
ciate with German military policy.
Here is another fawless demonstration
Of the lawlessness and ferocity which
have characterized Germany's attitude
toward other nations and toward individ-
uals who have stood in her way since the
day she tore to pieces the treaty guaran-
teeing the neutrality of Belgium. Every
thing must yield to the alleged necessi-.
ties Of her military programme. Belgium
was invaded and ravaged, Louvain was
burned. savage outrages were committed
on Belgian non-combatants, Rheims Ca
thedral was sheled, undefended cities
were attacked and women and children
were killed by gunfre and Zeppelin bombs,
noisonous. gases were used in trench war
fare. the inhuman under-sea system Of
warfare on unarmed merchantmen was
instituted and the Lusitania, with its
heavy complement of neutral passengers,
was sunk-all in pursuance Of the same
policv of ruthless indifference to treaty
ALLEGATIONS. TO the restraints of interna-
tional law, to the promptings of con-
science or to the dictates of humanity.
Now the example has spread. German
partisans in this country are beginning to.
take their cue from the barbarity and
lawlessness of the German government.
They are trying to practise the terrorism
inculcated by the German military code
and are beginning to remove by violence
those who hinder or are supposed to-
hinder Germany's success. individuals
are committing here in Germany's cause.
the same crimes which have been commit
ted on the other side of the Atlantic by
soldiers and sailors who wear the Kaiser's
uniform and carry out his orders.
The assailant of Mr.. Morgan and the
bomb-panter in Washington has CON
fessed his motive. He was undertaking
to carry into criminal effect the vicious
logic Of the pro-German agitation against.
the export from this country of mu-
iitions of war That agitation seeks
to place responsibility for the killing and
woundng Of German troops on the indi-
viduals here who, with perfect legality
and propriety, sell arms and munitions to
belligerent governments wishing to pur-
chase them.
1t also seeks to put similar response
bility on the government of the United
States, which declines to interfere with a
traffic sanctioned by international law and
usage and on which it would itself have to
depend in a large measure for self-protec-
ton were it to become involved in conflict
with any first class military power.
This agitation is the more vicious in
that it is almost entirely hypocritical. If
the Teutonic allies had free access to our
munitions market. there would be no
reckless, passionate demand for an en-
barge on exports Of arms and ammu-
. milton. The only protest heard would
come from a few -pacifsts, who abb
bor the manufacture and use Of arms for
any purpose.
But the government is now being as
sailed. and individual makers and for
warders of munitions are being vilifed
merely because the export Of munitions
helps one set of belligerents and to that
extent operates to the disadvantage of the
other set. Those who are making them
selves heard loudest in this vicious cam
paign are the most ardent partisans here
of the Teutonic alliance.
The right of American citizens to en-
gage in the munitions traffic is unassai.
able. The attitude of the government
toward that traffic is based on interna-
tional law and on sound public policy
Arguments against it cannot appeal to
reason. They must appeal, therefore, TO
prejudice and passion, and that appeal is
now bearing its dastardly and criminal
fruits.
Mr.. Morgan, a private citizen. was at
tackled because he was consplcuously en-