Gilpin observer., 1915-08-05
THE LAST WORD

Ine OnlueQ SlaueS lS no longer Cou-
cerned with what Germany says. 1t
is concerned only with what Germany
does.
President Wilson'S third note to the
German government in respect to the
issues of law and humanity raised by
tho Lusitania massacre Is the final
word of the United States. The note
is not an ultimatum in form but it is
an ultimatum in substance. The i'm
perial government is courteously but
emphatically informed that the Unit
ed States intends to maintain its
rights as a neutral on the high seas
without compromise and at any
COST" and that repetition by the
commanders of German naval vessels
of acts in contravention of those
rights must be regarded by the gov
ernment of the United States as de-
liberately unfriendly"
The issue now rests with Germany
Even the military-made autocracy of
Berlin can have no excuse for mistak-
ing the meaning of these serious and
measured words.
Germany has talked much about
the freedom of the seas which the
United States is determined to main
tain. There can be no freedom of the
seas except in accordance with the
principles and practices which tie
president so lucidly defines. The very
fact that Germany defends her policy
of indiscriminate submarine warfare
as "retaliatory" is, as the president
points out, concession of lawless-
ness; "for belligerent act of retalia-
ton is per Sc an act beyond the law,
and the defense Of an act as retalia-
tory is an admission that it is il
legal"
Germany processes to be retalating g
against Great Britain becaue of the
British blockade of the German coast.
In reality, as the president makes
clear, Germany is retaliating against
the United States and other neutral
nations for the acts of her enemy. In
respect to that question, there can be
no answer to the presidents assertion
that ''illegal and inhuman acts, how
ever justifiable they may be thought
to be against an enemy who is be-
lieved to have acted in contravention
of law and humanity, are manifestly
indefensible when they deprive neu-
trails of their acknowledged rights,
particularly when they violate the
right to life ITSELF
1 German naval comma nders have
shown that it is possible to conduct
submarine warfare in accordance with
due regard to the rights of neutrals
and non-combatants. There is rot a
single well-authenticated instance in
which a German submarine has been
destroyed or a German sailor has lost
his life by such conformity to the es-
tablished law of nations.
If Germany desires peace and
friendship with the United States. 1t
need surrender no lawful or essential
military advantage. The president
does not ask that submarine warfare
be abandoned or that it be rendered
futile. He demands only that so far
as Americans are concerned it must
conform to the principles of law and
humanity which We're universally
recognized until the German govern
ment suddenly became obsessed with
its maniacal theories of "frightful-
ness"
What the president exacts of Ger
many is the minimum that a self-re-
specting nation can demand of an
other responsible nation which has
wilfully murdered it's citizens and de-
liberately outraged its sacred rights.
He therefore insists that Germany
shall disavow the wanton act of its
naval commander in sinking the Lu-
sitania;" that it shall "offer repara-
ton for the American lives lost, so
far as reparation can be made for a
needless destruction of human life by
be no repetition by German comman-
ders of such crimes against citizens
Of the United States.
These demands are not excessive,
and in formulating them President
Wilson speaks not only for the Ameri-
can people but for civilization itself.
Unless the United States maintains
It's neutral rights, without compro-
mise and at any cost" there are no
neutral rights left which any bellig-
erent is bound to respect, and the
whole world is given over to the ter.
ror of the sword.-New York World.
TO THE PUBLIC.