The Washington herald., 1915-05-12
VIEWS OF THE PRESS.

Views VI 1nC fhEoo.
New York Evening Mail; The public
stIll awaits the authoritative utterance
of the United States government on the
Lusitania outrage. II Is not well to de-
lay this utterance too long. The tide
of public Indignation is rising. not sub
| siding. Ii has been increased By the in
suit of the German governments IRE
grets.' a firm expression of the nation
al conscience now. proceeding from the
President himself. must have the effect
| to lessen the public excitement and con-
Germ.
New York Telegram: There was no
mention in the Philadelphia speech on
the I.usitania incident. but what else
could have been in the Presidents mind
No one expected any fiery talk or dec
laration of war. There was no occasion
for 1t. 1t was neither time nor place
But q series of scholarly sentences. in all
proba biity doubtfully ccmprehended by a
.reat proportion of the audience and eX
| ccedingly gratifying to none more than
to Count Won Bernstorff and DIR. Dern-
burg. was not expected
The strict accountability" of February
| 10 is evidently forgotten.
II Is hoped it will be remembered AZ
the Cabinet meeting today.
Baltimore News: Glad indeed the
nation will be over the explanation by
the President this morning that he had
not the Lusitania in mind. But we can
not help feeling that his words reflect an
intention which the nation will not ac-
cept. We all want peace. We all want
righteousness. But we all want honor
according to the standard conception OF
md HEsII a thanr0fi-
cal respect for us as nation 1t is for
the President to avoid war il he can:
but not for the government to turn from
its most sacred privilege and duty. effec-
tual protection of its nationals The note
to Germany promised the American peo-
pie that that prerosative would be exer-
cised.
New York Tribune: 1t remains to
be discovered whether the German gov
eminent purposes to pursue this policy
of murder-whether 1t has committed it
self irrevocably to the slaughter OF Amer
lean neutrals. travelling upon the seas
under the protection and the guarantee
of our own government. 1t remains to
be disclosed whether the German govern
ment intends to continue the practices
revealed in the cases of the Frye. the
Falaba, the Gulflight. the Lusitana.
II such Is the purpose of the German
government neither the President of the
United States nor the collective inf1u-
ences working to avoid American en-
trance into the great war can avert the
inevitable consequences of German policy.
Germany's act was an act of war, an
aggression indefensible in international
law. not to be justified by any appeal to
common humanity. If she intends to
continue this course declaration of war
will be the bic consequence.
New York Evening World: Belgium.
Louvain. the William p. Frye. the
Falaba, the Gulflight-the Lusitania.
The sequence makes but too clear the
terrible consistency of the German
plan.
Before conccit so vast as to be in
conceivable before resolve SO ruth
less as q" be appalling. the people of
this nation are of but one mind. Fol-
lowing Germany's wanton drowning
of our friends and fellow Americans
off Kinsale we feel we have but one
course open:
First. Germany must be asked
bluntly and plainly whether she in
numbering peaceable American trav-
elers. drowning helpless women and
ba bies
II she replies that such is her un-
alterable program. then there is moth
ing for the United States to do but to
sever all diplomatic relations and
treat with Germany no more.
Meanwhile, send our citizens where
ever they wish and have a right to
go. With one mind and one soul we
stand ready to defend them.
Philadelphia Record, The justihca-
ton of sinking the Lusitania which
comes from Berlin merely aggravates
the crime against civilization.
Philadelphia Ledger, There is no
need to dwell upon the fact that the at
tempted Qualifications of this policy are
wholly without force. All of them, in
deed ignore the essential fact that the
safety Of noncombatants il the first con-
sideration in the destruction OF enemy
property at sea, As for the pleas that
the Lusitania was an armed cruiser. that
she was loaded with munitions Of war,
that her passengers abdicated their right
to protection when they sailed upon her,
they are nothing more or less than false
hoods. Germany has q very low idea
of American intelligence II she expects
them to be believed. They do not pail
late, they asgravate. her oHense. Mere
interchange of diplomatic opinion. based
upon the assumption that they are worth
-,
that the administration takes must res,
upon the principle OF ample redress for
past injuries and equally ample assur-
ance Of protection from further injuries
in the future. After the direct and ex.
plicit warning to the German government
that 1t would be held to strict account
ability for the loss Of American lives,
anything less than this would be incom-
patible with the national honor.
Philadelphia I.sAeeFs This IL no time
for hysterical conjecture or craven fears;
but It 10 the time to set the affairs Of our
military and naval households In order
Our plans should have reference to the
possible peril ~ well ~ to the desira-
bility Of being all things to all men in
the kindly oflAoes Of eventual mediation.
II 10 very well for 10 to say what VIC
will do or We won't do. but We cannot
predict when and where . mad dog will
bite. What 10 the use OF palaver a.
weapon Of defense against 8 man o.