The Washington times., 1915-02-21
Britain Seized
American Sailors.

To its interference with our commerce
Great Britain added the indignity Of
selling American sailors and impress
ing them into its nava, service. In
theory it acted on the principle that the
men so impressed were British citizens.
1t denied the right OF expatriation
and held that no Englishman could be-
Impressment did not stop with Eng
lishmen or those who had been natural
lied as Americans. Under this pre-
tense Great Britain took from the
even from a United States man Of war
men whose American citizenship was
theirs by right Of birth and not by nat
The tale Of outrage is long and shame
! full Yet there are Americans today
! who believe. and there Is at least one
/ Congressman who has the effrontery to
declare, that when. after nearly dec
! ade of supine submission We were fin
ally driven to resistance by force, We
! were the aggressors.
Shameful as is the story OF the out
RACES heaped upon the nation by the
cynical British and the contemptuoas
master of France. 1t is hardly more
pusilanimity made by the American
Government under overwhelming provo
! cation.
While they we're debasins themselves
and their country. though: the .Ameri,
England with threats Of taking Can
ada and prattled as artlessly as chill
dren Of what they would do when the
test OF arms finally came.
| When in the very height OF their
commercial prosperity there came the
news Of new and deadly blow struck
by Great Rritair the country rang with
indignant protest. and Congress was
flooded with pe,itions and memorials
! nrANIn~ hot hi, n
, relief. Not few used language Of a
very warlike tone.
The men Of old Salem reminded Con.
gress that they loved peace. but would
the National Legislature that too high
a price could be paid for peace. Vir.
Einla came forward with a pledge that
Whatever force" might be necessary tc
secure a Just and national redress
should receive its fun quota of men and
support from that State.
President Thomas Jefferson told Con
Eress the distressing story in his mes
sage, and tn" House referred the mat.
ter TO, a committee headed by Johr
Randolph. with instructions 10 find ou
in what way and 10 what extent oul
neutral rights had been violated and
What legislation was necessary TO de
fcnd them.
Weeks passed and the committee dic
nothing. Ttcn came some resolutions
Aims not fer military activity to com
r"' redress. bur for the prohibition o
importations from Great Britain. on tho
theory that by smashing our own trad,
Nc might damage that OF England anc
so induce II 10 ask us to be good anc
make up.
! There was hot debate or those reso
lUtons, and through it all ran the tall
of way, Nth renewal OF the threats I,
capture Canada This taking o.
CauauH has been ono OF Tie favor i,
va i#iious Of our war talk game. Their
was plenty Of talk and some futile cf
! fort III that direction during tho wa
for indeOeudcncc. For years before tn,
Vsg Of lsl2 sctually opened the commo,
amuscr!cnt OF the advocates of war v a!
discussion OF the case and certaint,
with which Canada would be taken. 7
must make Enslishnen lauah TO rsut
these threats and then compare then
with what occurred when the attemp
was really made
| "i|ugland "eil knows" cried the pro
pon"rts Of the nonimportstion resolu
1on'. that ~ tuc event 81 war canad;
>Sd NoNa : o''r >ud some of its Wcs
| IND . isl"rda vii be tdheu from it"
| 1hcn the" argued that this biting OF
of our n"s6 10 tpitS our own face wouI,
he ShoslnG manly and disnife,
srrit,' aud Would Command the re
CO ths 1rsSosi.ian ssni tsJo<Sk ~