The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-16
REMARKABLE SUPPORT.

Regardless of political belief or territorial
lines. the support that has been accorded Presi'
Rent Wilson in hts handling Of the crisis caused
by the sinking of the Lusitania has surpassed
that ever given an American public official since
newspapers rose to power and influence, and
ire expressions Of individuals have been served
mp each day for the information of the world.
The President feels the need OF this support
as does any public man when handling the pub
Hes business AT a critical time. Virginia is
gfate which reeds no urging TO stand by her
native con in the White House. She has stood
ny SO many virginians at such critical times
In the near and remote past that her present
undivided endorsement of Mr. Wilson is some
r7,af a matter Of course-very rnttef1 Hike the
support OF his own family.
Even r. ooe-svsli who wants "to tear Wilson
to pieces on his foreign treaties and would
.shus off commerce with Germany in twenty
four hours" had the good sense to keep quiet
ssnce the note was dispatched In this silence
he has been kept conEenial company by Dr.
Dernburg
This support has shown some woeful lack Of
have absolutely misconstrued the letter. The
sections which the rest Of the country have
found strongest and most commendahIe the
Washington Hera'd charaeterizes as feeble
paragraphs" We let the Herod speak for IT.
self in its loneliness
s.It ia a pacific note that President WIZ
son has sent to Germany. The careful
reader will be periodically expectant un-
I'll he reaches the last two paragraphs and
then he will he fatty disappointed It ia
an unhnisfed note, IT buzzes and looks
vencmous ne wasp until the end II
asnined and ii Is found that the sting he's
bsen withdrawn. The whole American
people win support their Presidents dccla-
ration; they would have supported him
with ten times more enthusiasm st. after
expressing adherence of the crime OF the
I1usitania and his and the peoples
view Of what constitutes civilized and what
nncivilised warfare. he had appended a
stern demand that Germany should at
once shape her course TO comply with thoEc
views-
THE note as IS well known. was writ
4 ten by President Wilson. n does NOT need
the signature Bryan" 10 suggest that az
~ other brain ana hand than Woodrow Will
sons concocted the last two feeble para
graphs But for these the note would
s have become a famous state parer in the
worlds history. As it is II leaves the way
0 that Germany viii take fun advantage Of"
contrasted with this view IS that Of another
prominent Republican paper the Philadelphia
Press. which in discussing the message
! and the same paragraph speaks as follows:
s I" The Imperial German Government viii
HI not expect the Government Of the United
States TO emit any word any act nee
essary 10 the performance Of its sacred
duty Of maintaining the rights Of the
United States and its citizens and of safe
guarding their free exercise and enjoy
rnent.'
In this concluding paragraph OF his
Arm and diRnihed note to the German Gov
eminent President Wilson expresses the
n whole spirit Of hs excellent message. The
maintenance of the rights OF its citizens
a and safeguarding their free exercise and en-
1oyment IS The primary object of any gov
ernrnent ana the attainment Of this essen
tai end is y hat this message mas IN view"