The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-02-09

History, true to the old adage, for the United
States as well as the powers England is directly
and openly seeking to destroy, is repeating itself
American ships on the high seas are being
stopped by British warships and on the slightest
pretext are sent under the command OF prize
crews to be informed indefinitely in British ports
until their cargoes can be thoroughly examined
for contraband articles. The United States mer-
chant marine, in other words, if England can pre-
vent it, is not to be allowed the opportunities for
growth and expansion presented by this war.
With equally cynical if not downright sinister
disregard for our rights as neutral nation hon.
estly striving to be impartial to all begerents in
the great European war, England orders her
merchant ships to save themselves from threat
ened destruction by German submarines by
steaming through the dangerous waters with
the neutral Stars and Stripes at their mast
heads
The United States has three courses open to
her in this contingency. We can protest this &C
ton of England's to her in such certain terms
that she will understand repetition OF such un-
friendly acts will mean war, thus showing Ger
many, as well as England that our proclamation
of neutrality was uttered in good faith. We can
make weakened protest to England and pre-
tend to be satisfied with her hypocritical ex-
pressions of regret over the occurrence and a
grape juice, to the everlasting furnishing of the
value of our word as nation, not only with Ger
many but with all other nations. Or we can
make no protest, accepting proper England's
privilege to fly our flag because some years back
she passed law, not yet recognized in interna-
tional law, that merchant ships Of belgerent
nations can fly the British emblem if thereby
they might avoid capture destruction
The first alternative mentioned is, of course,
the one an honorable and self-respecting nation
should take. Thanks to the pacifists and the
Democratic party we are in no position to make
such just demand Only blind fools and i'm
practical jingoes with no comprehension of the
weakness of our army and navy would expect
our mild-mannered, gentle and peace-loving sec
rotary of state, William Jennings Bryan, thus
fguratively speaking to roll up our sleeves and
knot our fists in the cynical, apoplectic face of
John Bull.
No, we don't want war, knowing that we are
unprepared for it to a degree never before exper-
fenced in our short history nation, as these
hordes of millions of trained, armed, thoroughly
equipped fighting men in Europe testify. We
want peace just as long as the military nations
of Europe and Asia find it inconvenient to their
ever growing interests to give us war. In our
own eyes, we are nation of good little boys and
girls who won't get spanked as long as we remain
good and obedient. We forget that out of sheer
disgust with such sanity goodness the tough lit
tie mutt who lives the side street close to the
alley sometimes wantonly blacks the eyes of
such kid-gloved little Percys.
To the eyes of military Europe and Asia, we
must present the spectacle of the gorging and
growing hog, constantly becoming fatter and
juicier and more appealing to the appetite and
more tempting to such butchers as it's increasing
sluggshness and lessened defensive powers make
the overthrow Of such an animal always easier
Our present immunity more likely is due to the
difficulty of the butchers deciding which one of
them shall slaughter the animal and who shall
have the lions share, rather than to any desire
to encourage us in attitude of good little
Percys.
Therefore, Mr.. Bryan, when you take up this
matter Of the use of our flag to protect British
ships, take good swig from the grape juice bot
tie and, beginning just back of the name, when
the lion is headed east, stroke him gently towards
the west and when you come to the tail, don't let
any foolish jngoes ex-pacifsts tempt you into
twisting it. Little Percys, you know, should new
er be guilty of such unmannerly action.
E. M Bowers and Christ The resignation becomes eff.
,enterville quartet fective April During his
rh. pau VIZ Tow Eaton the church has prospered Rev.