The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-12-17
What VIII Happen?


are not complied with, and has asked for definite
information. = E#
: A good many Americans would like to know the
same thing The communication denouncing the
sinking Of the Ancona IAN inhuman, barbarous
,wanton slaughter of helpless men, women and
children sounds the right note, but does it mean
anything besides words? The President, it may
be recalled, informed Germany that she would BE-
held to strict accountability for the actions of her
submarines and Germany replied by sinking the
Lustania, an act worse in every way than the
sinking of the Ancona. The Austrian at least gave
the passengers few minutes to escape while the
destroyer of the Lusitania struck out of the dark
giving neither warning nor opportunity. .,a 80,
Gefmnaany has not as, yet dfsaTo%ed the Lust
tania sinking, and Austria is quite justified in en-
tering plea for information whether the "strict
Accountability in her case is to be of the made r
Germany" brand.
The Lusitania case, while it may have passed
out of the region of diplomacy, is far from being
forgotten by Americans Constant reminders come
almost daily, in explosions, murders, fires, bomb.
and other violations of American neutrality anc
each adds bit more to the fire of resentment tha
is smouldering beneath the apparent camness o
the United States.
The mainland press is bitterly outspoken for thu
most part like sentiments being expressed from
the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Canadian
line to the Gulf The New York Tribune, in re
cent issue, speaks for great part of the American
nation in the following, which is bitter but true
Says that paper:
At the present time there exists in this country
dton Of disorder and crime which is unequalled in its
long history. In the interests of foreign nation Amer
lean lives are being impered and domestic property
is being destroyed scale that approaches actual
+ Every day Americans read in their press the
authentic reports of crimes, of manufacturing
plants in flames of ships that break into flames
the high hardly out Of sight Of American ports
The detailed accounts Of conspiraees and plots which
lack nothing of proof would be incredible If they had
not become so common as to lose even challenge to
the imagination.
: In the interests of Germany and Austria certain
American citizens and other naturalzed residents
of this country are making war upon the citizens and
interests United States Certain of these crimes
having been traced back to the Austrian ambassador he
has been recalled at the request of the state depart
ent, but not only have his acts not been disavowed,
but successor has been sent and he has been wei
coined home with decoration conferred only for rec
ognzed service to his country while many Of his
i Heutenants remain
To have imagined ten years ago that a time would
impered in the interests of foreign nation by resi-
dents Of the United States would have been impossible
yet the thing has happened the evil visible all Sides
and theres installing the fact that it is mounting
Nor is there any installing the equally clear crcum'
stance that adequate determined attempt is being
deal with crime that strikes at the very root
of national existence and undermining the fabric Of
4 American life.
| What is the explanation of it There can be but
answer, and the exposes utterly the folly
of the present foreign policy of Mr.. Wilson and the
peril at home that has result of the betrayal
abroad Of American life and safety. When Mr.. Wilson
told the world the morrow of the Lusana massacre
that America too proud to fight to protect Amer
lean and children he told the Germans and the
agents of German activities something which they had
long believed and something that Bernhard had
| Ventured to include in his interesting volume.
No American should mistake the meaning accepted
by the Germans for Mr.. Wilson 5 Lustania course.
To them it frank confession that the national ad
minstraton too much concerned with the political
possibilities Of German American opposition to take
any prompt definite action to protect American lives
For them Mr.. Wilson's words too proud to fight
meant exactly thing they meant that it safe
to proceed with campaign of violence in the United
4 States just the German government they
guarantee that the submarine campaign of massacre
on the high would be met with words, not acts
and that the sole protection for American lives would
be found In phrases.
country that will protect its citizens abroad
because 1t is afraid of the political consequences at
home, administration that hesates and falters in
the presence Of the plain duty of protecting lives
is not administration or country to be feared
either at home abroad by those who know other
restraint than force and respect neither the dictates of
humanity nor Of international law, these are
enforced by arms and warships.
We have the present violence within our borders be-
Mr.. Wilson permitted the murder of American
citizens to go unehallenged save by words that
rendered harmless by the explanatory speech that pre-
coded them. We have violence at home because Mr.
Wilson's secretary Of state eagerly informed the Aus
tran ambassador, himself the captain of the industry
of murder and violence in the United States that the
words spoken in protest at the murder of Americans
the high only words. And when Mr..
Bryan told Doctor Dumba this he only confirmed in
private what Mr.. Wilson had proclaimed in public
in his "too proud to fight speech
H., The, German government believed that Mr.. Wilson
did not mean his warnings oVerthe LustahiA hassae
because they told by those who had every
Ennuy ala That fha nrlu
not meant, because the national administration
afraid of the local political effect if it took the natural
with Germany. They told and they be