The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1915-05-19

counselled a peaceful course, but ad-
vocated firmness. A few messages
justified the sinking.s
He did not consult with Secretary
Bryan Or. others of his cabinet, and
it is significant that the president has
not communicated with any of his
advisers since the Lusitania went
down. Cabinet members were con-
spicuous by their absence from the
White House.
The responsibility is his and he
wishes to be guided by the wishes OF
the people, uninfluenced by the views
of his associates, cabinet officials
have been given to understand, until
he is prepared to place before the
cabinet the policy he believes this
government should adopt. ~.
An important utterance to tho
American people is expected in ad-
vance of the cabinet meeting, how
ever, when the president goes to
Philadelphia to address 1000 newly
naturalized citizens there.
Whether the president will disclose
any hint of the course this govern
ment is inclined to pursue in the
momentous crisis caused, by Ger
many's destruction of thef Lusitania,
was not disclosed. But it was indiZ
Gated that he will deliver a message
appealing to the people to be calm in
the face Of the crisis and permit the
government to work out its policy I'M
informed by public clamor.
Official desire is to keep down anti
German demonstrations in the United
States at this time when the country
| is at white heat The greatest pres
sure is being brought to bear on the
president by public opinion, as it has
thus far found expression, to adopt
strictest measures. ~
The view has been expressed II
opinions of public men reachi4g the
White House that it will be futile to
treat this latest outrage with diplo-
| matte notes.
The strong terms of the notesto
Germany on the war zone placed the
| government in position where it
| must act vigorously, the president
has been advised in communications
| reaching him.
Germany must be made to under
stand that there is a limit to which
| federation may wisely be carried,
writer's of these communications des
| clare.
Suggestions that the United States
break off diplomatic relations with
Germany or that the German mer-
chantmen tied up at American ports
| ha fu
Germany making reparation for the
acts committed, will not be discussed
at the White House or state Depart
| ment All officials have adopted the
policy of waiting for the president to
speak.
The president, officials point out,
has considered the human side Of the
tragedy, which deals with the ruth
less destruction of American lives,
and the legal 81 ie to which the GeE
man government points for justifca-
tion in sinking an enemy's ship.
The one danger in the present sit
uation that is alarming Washington
| is that wave of anti-German senti.
ment now rolling up in this country
may force the government to action
before it has determined its course
| by due deliberation.
The decision which the president
and his advisers must. reach, it was
admitted in all quarters, is momen-,,
tous one Those officials conversank
| with the legal aspects Of the ease
pointed out that the United States
faced a grave and serious proDaem OF
lasting Importance in history, as all
! the world-neutrals and bellige1ents
aIike-would wait with acute e1pee-
fancy for the course which the United
States would pursue to preserve the
rules of international law, particu-
larly the rights of neutrals, with re-
spect to the safety Of non-combatants
on merchant ships at sea.