Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-05
THE DUTY OF THE UNITED


ern papers regarding Germany's repl,
to President Wilson's note, seems te
indicate that there is feeling in thai
part of our country that still more
serious condition may soon arise De
tween the United States and Germany
The east seems to be more inclined
to that opinion, than Is the mldale
west. AS general proposition, the
papers of the middle west are all poS-
lively in favor of peace. They Zee
that the United States should state Its
position of what it believes Is morally
and legally right in the conduct OF q
war. They believe that this country
can set forth what it feels is the rlgnt
position in the name of humanity and
civilization. and what is morally right
and reiterate those sentiments, out
that It need not get itself in posi-
tion where it is necessary to go to war
to enforce them.
The present war is under way. Botn
sides are ignoring precedents ana IN.
agreements, and to grea.
extent moral limitations. The united
States could not change those conoi.
lions even if itfdeclared war and went
to war but it can, by setting fortn :.
platforn that is right in the name OF
civilization humanity and morality,
and keeping that before as much OF
tha world as is possible. have big
influence in rules that will be aoopteo
after this war is over.
This will not be the last war OF the
world. However, it is the most glgan-
tic Wholesale slaughter OF humanity
that has ever occurred. The STANDARD
Of civilization in all Europe is lowered
today clear beyond recovery in many
generations. 1t is going to go still
lower. and it would seem at this time
that It Is the bounden duty OF the
United States Of America to stay out
NJ this maelstrom Of blood so that 1t
can and will be the factor that is main
tanning a remnant Of civilization.
While Germany's reply may not be,
and is not Just such a reply as the
limited States would like to have re-
ceiyed. is it logical and reasonable to
suppose that it would be? When even
two individuals engage In an argu-
ment It is not expected that the reply
that one makes to the other Is going
to exactly At what he would have
liked the answer to have been. II 1t
vas. there would not be any cause
Tor the argument in the first place.
The people of the United States, in
diyidually and collectively, have an
immense responsibility at this time.
More than half of the civilized world
in population and in area is at war The
United states is the only one of the
prominent nations that is not at war.
What is going to become of the civil
lization If the United States should go
to war? What is it going to gain If
it does go to war? These are some
of the questions that the people
should ask themselves and answer to
themselves.
If the people Of this country can be
brought to realize the great RESPONSE
bility that is upon them, they will not
put themselves in position where
something can happen to them that
will involve this nation. 1t Is not a
question Of where our citizens can or
cannot go legally. It is matter now
of conducting ones self so that no act
or acts Of his shall involve this coun-
try in this international and whole
sale murder.
Men may have rights under interna-
tional laws and do certain things, yet