Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-06-11

stated in my letter Of resignation.
namely, that I may employ as a pri-
vate citizen, the means which the pres
ident does not feel at liberty to en-
ploy. I honor him for doing what he
believes to be right and I am sure that
he desires, as I do, to find peaceful
solution of the problem which has
been created by the action Of the sub
marines.
1.-TWO of the points on which we diff
fer, each conscientious in conviction,
are. first, as to the suggestion OF In
vestigation by an international COM
mission, and, second, as t. warning
Americans against travelling on bellig-
erent vessels or with cargoes of am
munition. l believe that this nation
should frankly state to Germany that
we are willing to apply in this case
the principle which we are bound by
treaty to apply to disputes between
the United States and the thirty coun-
tries with which we have made trea-
ties providing for investigate Of all
disputes of every character and ma
ture. These treaties, negotiated under
this administration, make war practi-
cally impossible between this country
and these thirty governments repre-
senting nearly three-fourths of all the
people Of the world.
Among the nations with which we
have these treaties, are Great Britain,
France and Russia. No matter what
disputes may arise between us and
these treaty nations, we agree that
there shall be no declaration Of war
and no commencement Of hostilities
until the matter in dispute has been
investigated by an international com"
mission and a years time is allowed
for investigation and report.
This plan was offered to all the
nations without any exceptions what
ever, and Germany was one Of the ma
tions that accepted the principle, be-
ing the twelfth. think, to accept No
treaty was actually entered into with
Germany, but I cannot see that that
should stand in the way when both
nations endorsed the principle. I do
not know whether Germany would ac-
cept the offer, but our country should,
in my judgment, make the offer.
Such an offer, If accepted, would
at once relieve the tension and silence
all the jingoes who are demanding
war. Germany has always been a
friendly nation and a great many Of
our people are of German ancestry.
Why should we not deal with Ger
many according to the plan to which
the nation has pledged its support?
THE second point Of difference is as
to the course which should be pursued
in regard to Americans travelling on
belligerent ships or with cargoes of
ammunition.
"Why should an American citizen
be permitted to involve his country in
war by travelling upon a belligerent
ship when he knows that the ship will
pass through a danger zone? The
question is not whether an American
citizen has a right, under international
law, to travel on a belligerent ship:
the question is whether he ought not.
out of consideration for his country,
if not for his own safety, avoid dan
ger when avoidance is possible.
at is a very one-sided citizenship
that compels a government to go to
war over a citizens rights and yet re-
lieve the citizen of all obligations to
consider his nations welfare. l do
not know just how far the president
can legally go in actually preventing
Americans from travelling on bellig-
erent ships, but l believe the govern
ment should go as far as it can and
that in case of doubt it should give
the benefit of the doubt to the govern
ment
but even If the government could
not legally prevent citizens from trav-
cling on belligerent ships, it could, and
in my judgment should, earnestly ad-
wise American citizens not to risk
themselves or the peace of their coun-
try, and l have no doubt that these
warnings should be needed.