Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-06-16

she did not carry cargo prohibited
by the statutes of the United States,
and that, if in fact she was naval
vessel of Great Britain, she should
not receive clearance as a merchant
man, and it pe,'for:hed that duty and
enforced its statutes with scrupulous
vigilance through its regularly con-
StItnted officials. 1t is able, there
fore, to assure the imperial German
government that it has been misin-
formed. If the imperial German
government should deem itself to be
in possession Of convincing evidence
that the officials Of the government
of the United States did not perform
these duties with thoroughness the
government of the United States
sincerely hopes that it will submit
that evidence for consideration.
Contention Irrelevant.
Whatever may be the contentious
G the imperial German government
regarding the carriage of contrabaud
VI " "oi Oil poul" TIC lJuSlldlld OF It-
garding the explosion Of that mate
rial by the torpedo, it need only be
said that in the view Of this govern
mGnt these contentious are irrelevant
to the question Of the legality OF the
methods used by the German naval
authorities in sinking the vessel.
"But the sinking Of passenger ships
involves principles OF humanity which
throw into the background special
circumstances of detail that may be
thought to affect the caSeS-princi-
pies which lift it, as the imperial
German government will no doubt be
quick to recognize and acknowledge,
Out OF the class Of ordinary subjects
o. diplomatic discussion or Of inter-
national controversy. Whatever be
tn" other facts regarding the Lusi-
tania, the principal fact is that
great steamer, primarily and chiefly a
conveyance for passengers, and car
rying more than a thousand souls,
who had no part or lot in the conduct
OF the war, was torpedoed and sunk
| without SO much as challenge or a
| warning, and that men, women and
| children were sent to their death in
| circumstances unparalleled in mod
| ern warfare. The fact that more
| than 100 American citizens were
| among those who perished made it
| rho lutN Of ho
United States to speak of .hese
| things, and once more, witt solemn
| emphasis, to call the attention Of the
| imperial German government T6 the
grave responsibility which the gov
eminent Of the United States con-
| ceiVes that it has incurred in this
| tragic occurrence, and to the indis-
putable principle upon which that re-
SponSibility rests. The government
| Of the United States is cOntending for
| something much greater than mere
| rights of property or privileges Of
commerce. 1t is contending for
| nothing less high and sacred than the
| rights Of humanity, which every gov
ernment hOnorS itself ia respecting
| and which no government is justified
| in rcsigning on behalf Of those under
its care and authority. Only her
| actual resistance 10 capture or refu-
sal to stop when ordered to do so for
| the purpose Of visit could have af-
| iorded the commander of the subma-
rine any justification for so much as
| putting the lives of those on board
| the ship in jeopardy. This principle
| the government of the Cnitcd States
understands to be the explicit in
| Structions issued on August ,. 1914,
| by the imperial German admiralty to
| its commanders at sea to have rec
ogniZed and embodied, as do the ma
val codes Of all other nations, and
upon it every traveller and seaman
| mad a right to depend Ii is upon
this principle of humanity as we'll as
upon the law founded upon this
! principle that the United States must
| stand.
Offers Good Offices.
The government OF the United
States is happy to observe that your
cNccllency's note closes with the in
timation that the imperial German
government is willing, now as be-
fore, to accept the good Offices of the
United States in an attempt to come
to an understanding with the govern
ntcnt o" Great Britain by which the
character and conditions OF the war
upon the sea may be changed. The
government Of the United States