Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-12
The Presidents Hour.

The Presidents Hour.
Looking to the President is the
eaying of the hour oftenest seen and
heard. The American people ARE
looking to the President" and will
size him up for good and all by his
course in the present crisis in for.
eisn affairs.
We have no quarrel with President
Wilson's utterances to 1000 natural
ICED Americans, Monday evening, at
Philadelphia, but we cannot reconcile
any expression of it with the Ger
many will be held to a strict ac-
counta bility," Of a recent note from
Washington to that government. Be-
ing right" and submitting our case
on it's merits to the world, half of
which is war mad. does not count for
much.
We are looking to the President"
to see to it that American neutrals
may engage All any Ia "Aui Pun Su'~
without becoming the victims of an
inhuman war policy. II the Presi-
dent can bring this about and main
tain our peace footing, our attitude
of unity and brotherly love for all
peoples, he will have accomplished
something for which the American
people will remain grateful to him.
But no "watchful waiting" Mexican
policy will be acceptable to the people
Of this country.
If James G. Blaine had been secre-
tary of State last Friday, today We
would have known, and the world
would know, the American attitude
from this hour. But If Blaine had
been premier last August the Lusi
tsnia would never have been tor
pedoed. For Great Britain and Ger
many would have understood long
ago that they must confine their war
activities to war participants and that
murder of the mothers and babies of
neutral nations would not be suffered
by non belligerents.
Our example" must not only be
one of peace but of self respect, and
a self-respecting nation does not
helplessly and unprotestingly submit
to wholesale slaughter of its inno-
cents as part of a campaign of ter
rorism.
1t is not our function or that of any
other newspaper to stir up feeling at
critical hours, but it is right and nee
essary that the truth be told, and
that those in control Of the nations
bearing be informed Of the peoples
views. Going that far, we find it a
duty to say that the people Of this
part of America unreservedly con-
denim recent acts of Germany and If
Great Britain. Speaking for those
with whom we are in touch We would
say that they do NOT believe war is
necessary, but they DO believe that
this nations case should be presented
in terms so plain and forceful that
these warning nations must eventual
ly settle in full-be held to a strict
accountability"-fo the destruction
of American life and treasure in {.
manner not consistent with ir1terna-
tional law and humane prosecution
Of the gruesome business Of war
If the Presidents present attitude
is wholly "self-restraint," then he Is
admirable, and the people may await
the outcome with confidence. But ii
the present hating attitude and fail
ure to take the people into his conf
dence is an indication of helplessness
then is the case grave indeed.
We choose to accept the former dis
tinction and to hope that the Presi-
dents calm utterances at Philadel-
phia were for their restraining effec.
upon the temper of the populace. :;
is a time for self-restraint and con-
sideration of every mitigating circum
stance in the position Of the power
which has injured US, and which We
know has committed very grave err
ror in her conduct Of war-more
costly to her than to us.
But our honor and the cause O!
humanity demand that we prove tc
Germany that she HAS erred
previously. We believe this can be
accomplished through diplomatic
channels and that the German am
bassador and other representatives. re.
main in this country