The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-28
ARE WE
A German States the Case Of Uncle
Sam W.. John Bull.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. I
am attacked on the street with knife
and pistol by Mr.. Jones, and | wound
him seriously In self-defence. am
taken to court on a charge Of assault
and battery and enter a plea of self
defence. II MIR. Wilson were sitting
upon the bench my plea would be re-
jected in some such fashion as this
MY good man. your plea is "a plea in
confession and avoidance. II involves
an admission that you have violated the
law against laying violent hands upon
the person of a fellow. Whether or
not you have violated that law Is the
only question | deem pertinent on this
trial. ! annot allow you to obscure
that plain and simple issue by an irrele-
van Inquiry into the conduct of Mr..
Jones. You say that he first broke the
law by attacking you, and that you we're
forced to follow suit for your own pro-
lection. but YOU will readily appre-
clate, sir. that | can properly discuss
that matter only with Mr.. Jones. So far
as you are concerned, you admit your
suilt. and | therefore condemn you to
punishment"
Such a judgment would be as valid
N logic and Justice as the treatment OF
our controversy with Germany by the
Administration and by a majority Of
haN 49, AhAA tAh0
uniformly that her submarine opera
tons against the merchant ships OF
Great Britain were undertaken as a
means OF self-defence against Rritain's
Illegal suppression of her with
neutral nations. She has protested al
ways her willingness TO Withdraw these
operations within the limits set by in
ternational law as IL was understood
before the war began, IL Great Britain
n.aHulI Al.uV.lL.. IAr 90. -, - ...-
tees and respect the same snte-bellum
law of nations.
No one denies, | believe. that Great
Britain, almost from the beginning of
the war, has Interrupted
which she had no legal right to dis
turb and has lone IL In a manner UNI
sanctioned by law. Thus a situation
Is presented which can he dealt with
fairly only through simultaneous and
equally forcoful representations to both
offenders. II Is as irrational and un-
fair to suspend protest aga INST the
offences of Britain and concentrate our
wrath on Germany alone AS IT would
be for "a policeman to approach while
| was defending myself from the at
tacks of Mr.. Jones. and say to me {:
You must cease striking MIR. Jones at
once, and some time in the dim future.
when the spirit moves me tand | nope
after you have been battered to a pulp)
| may protest respectfully to Mr.. Jones
against his striking YOU"
Biltaln's arbitrary suspension of the
law of the seas occurred long before
Germany's submarine programme was
~inaugurated. and II has never ceased.
ON the contrary. II has been extended.
II mas interfercd with our
IN a manner that the bu ldeIs OF the
republic refused 70 tolerate. Yet the
Administration has mcckly acquicsced.
strong words have been spoken to Ger
many because Of her defence by sub
marine, but to Britain nothing has been
said except a message phrascd 50 mildly
that the British Government waited
four months to answer It. We hear $ M
ply Idle hints now and then that a note
may he prepared and despatched 10 Lon
don and hollow rroClamatious that we
shall insist urou the frccdum Of the
seas from whatever quarter violated,
without compromise and at any cost"
In view OF the actual conduct Of the
Administration, however. Britain and
British sympath!zers among us treat
such declarations. with good reason, as
mere hrutum fulmcn.
The course Z the Government In this
controversy cannot be squared with the
rules of fair play u does not deserve he
support % "A united country. and IN my
opinion il will not receive T. n tho Gov
I'M were making equally forceful
Efforts to compel the observance OF the
law 10y both helligerents, il would deserve
the enthusiastic support OF every cit zen.
though in tina event presumably the
numerous Angloph!.es among us would
fight with frantic feryor any effort to
fctter the will OF Britain with the bonds
OF mere law. Witness their ~denuucia-
ton OF every such suggestion as an alb
hurgent effort TO enlist the United States
IN a Teuton.c plan t. rob England OF
her ADVANTAGE" on tho seas. The fact
that that advantage" as enjoyed at
present II maintained largely at the ex-
peHse Of law and the rights u our own
commerce IS negligible Of course Any
advantage that ENGLAND can gain by
hook or crook must te respected by Us,
only Germany must he made ~ toe
the International law marx.
II annot b.. denied thit these &C.
contrlcities o: reasoning have given US n
considerable momentum toward war
with Germany. Concurreutly with the
outbreak Of war L would 10 Ht'jng to
toss the Declaration az Independence
20 tho flames, apologize for George
Washington as n traitor and petition
the Crown for the formal r~eincorpora-
ton OF The States" into the British
Empire. HERMAN A. HERrwiG.
NEW YORK, July 81