New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-17

tania case illustrates. Were Germany 10 %
/ held to a strict obedience to the international
law and England left free to set aside thai
| law merely because, due to her fortunate
position and certain fortuitous circumstances
she could do so without outright destruction
Ct neutral lives. what else would this mean
than compelling Germany 20 meekly submit
to England's unlawful and inhuman starva'
ton blockade and to abstain from the fulfil
ment of her first and supreme duty by tins
only means at her command?
And if under these circumstances our gov
eminent were TO insist upon the right OF oui
citizens sailing on British ships and declare
any attack upon such ships in conflict with
international law crime against our gov
eminent and people, and as such casus belll
what else would this mean than making OF
our country an active ally of the British gov
eminent in its unlawful conduct and prevent
ing the German government from fulfilling
its supreme duty toward its own people?
Because of this dilemma / hold that oui
government having professed equal friend
ship for both beligerents and declared It's
avowed determination to unfinchingly con-
tcrd for the maintenance of international
law-and what is more, the demands of hui
manity--should have requested, yea, com
manded, our citizens to stay off all bellger-
ent ships-should have called on both bel
ligerents to forthwith revoke all orders and
measures in conflict with international law
and, to give force TO such CALL should have
announced that in case of refusal by any oil
both of the belligerents steps would be taken
to compel obedience TO the international law
Particularly in view of the warning issued
by the German Embassy and the undeniable
Guty OF our government TO secure, above all
else, the safety of the lives of our citizens,
should the administration have made impos-
sible the loss of American lives by the sink
ing of the Lusitana or any other vessel.
Above all international law, since that
merely represents the effort to apply the re-
quirements Of natural law TO the ever chang
ing conditions of life and relations of nations
stands reason, and il is reason that must de-
termine the course TO be pursued by govern
ment when extraordinary conditions arise.
Foregoing temporarily the exercise of any
right does not imply or necessltate the waiv-
ing of the right itself.
Germany has given heed to the protest OF
our government and has abandoned those
features OF submarine warfare which our
government held 20 be violation Of the in
ternational law, and particularly of the
rights of neutrals under that law. By such
action she has made il doubly the moral duty
of our government TO exact with all possible
dispatch from England the abandonment OF
all measures violative OF international law.
Unless our government performs this duty
we cannot in fairness seek 10 bind Germany
to faithful observance Of international law.
And though life, whose loss is !rTeparsble'
must above all else be protected by the state,
The plea that other losses may be replaced
can never justify the neglect Of enforcing
all the rules OF international law. Either
all those rules must be enforced with an
even hand and like energy or it will be i'm
possible to enforce any Of these rules, at
least not without perpetratng an injustice.
The American people have not become so
morally decadent as TO be afraid to fight for
the maintenance Of justice and the honor and
dignity of their nation, but shey rightly re-
fuse 20 enter into war without genuine neces-
sity or real justification merely because our
government has failed 70 see and do its full
duty or hes lacked the wisdom and foresight
70 forestan certain dangers. Nor are they
willing TO enter into war because certain Of
our citizens have refused 70 exercise that eau
.:on which the supreme duty of preserving
cne's own life and the due regard for the
welfare and peace of their country demand
Of every sane. conscientious and patriotic
citizen. Likewise they refuse 10 enter war
against any one nation because of violations
Of international law when such action would
snly mean rendering aid to another nation
guilty Of the same offence.
II the purpose of your editorial is to drive
our people into war, then in all candor you
should say so in plain language; but should
you not then, as a matter of fairness and
consistency, call upon our people and gov
eminent TO declare. war at one and the same