The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-08-06

reiterates her Reputation of all treaties
and of all laws. whether among nations
or of civilization and humanity, which
may conflict with her own conception
of military necessity; she apologies fol
nothing; she comedies nothing; she &C
knowledges nothing; she seeks only to
secure our approval of her lawless
practices through our acquiescense in
her proposal that we waive our I'M
questioned rights upon the high seas
and 80 many Of our ships as she may
permit, under her surveillance and sub
ject to her dictation; having injured u.s.
she would wrong us; that is all there is
of this insolent declaration.
Not one of our moderate demands If
accorded even the courtesy OF franz
recognition; all are in effect denied
each and every one is either tacitiy
spurned or impudently ignored.
Never before has this country and
seldom, if ever, has any country been
treated so contemptuously. Why 's
this? What has happened to convince
even truculent autocracy that this
republic can be flouted with impunity
Surely history warrants no such as
sumption. Tripoli at the outset was
taught her lesson by jefferson, England
first by Madison and again by Cleve'
land, Mexico by Polk, France by Lin
coin, Spain by Mckinley and Japan
more decisively than is commonly un-
derstood, by Roosevelt. What now
induces Germany to believe that Presi'
dent Wilson does not mean what he
says? That ''strict accountability
signifies nothing?
Obviously there is an insidious cause
back of the imperial governments in.
solence-nothing less than a fixed be-
lief that the sentiment of this country
is not only divided but is veering in
their direction. Feeling in the United
States" placidly remarks the inspired
Morgen Post Of Berlin. is changed from
what it was at the time of the Lusi.
tania sinking and President Wilson
will have to satisfy this new feeling in
considering and answering the present
note. That the note will meet with
unrestrained approval at the hands OF
large part of Americans is certain"
For this impression undoubtedly, as we
forsaw, the resignation of Bryan, sup
plemented by the traitorous utterances
of hyphenated editors who write as
Germans, not as Americans, is directly
responsible. And it is because OF this
conviction beyond question that the
imperial governments address was in
no sense, categorical or otherwise, a
response to the American government;
1t was stump speech to the American
people; not an answer to the President,
but an appreciation of Bryan.
Germany is fighting for existence"
of her own volition. So. involuntarily.
are the peoples of England and of
France. So may we be compelled to do
to withstand the imperial governments
ruthless endesvor to place "Deutsch.
land uber"-not merely France and
but-'uber allies" Let their
words be ours. No more than they,
and never so long as patriotic spirit
anilnates American beings. shall this
free republic be found guilty" before
God and history of violation of those
principles Of highest humanity which
are the foundations of every national
existence" and of all civilization.
We can but believe that, when those
American men and women were swept
10 their doom from the decks of the
Lusitsnia. after vainly trying to save
the kiddies," their hearts were com.
forted by the certainty in their minds
that they had country. Shall we who
i've scar the trusting souls of those who
lied by forgetting that they we're our
xinsmen and were slaughtered like
sheep in penn