Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-25

FeOpfG DeTOTS Properly.
The recent debate between Senator Smith, of
Georgia. and Senator Williams, of Mississippi over
Englands treatment of, American trade the
most stimulating the country yet has heard on this
important issue. Senator Smith took his stand
on the law of the case, and his exposition was as
keen and exhaustive as the severest logcian could
demand Senator Williams spoke for common
sense and humanity. His plea was less learned
than his distinguished opponents but to the rank
and file of the American people, we believe it was
more convincing; certainly, more persuasive.
In considering what measures should take
against England's restrictions upon North Sea COM
merce in this fiery hour of her own and all man
kinds ordeal we may be guided by either of two
interests-an interest in dollars and cents or an
interest in the worlds freedom and democracy. We
may regard cotton and beef of greater or less &C
count than the human sacrifice of the Lusitania.
But whether are moved by sense of expediency
or a sense of right by love of money love of man.
we may be sure that the last of all ways to gain
what we seek would be embargo on the sale of
munitions and food supplies to England
In advocating such a course as a of
forcing the British Government to the terms which
he considers proper, Senator Smith assumes that
England and her allies would yield rather than be
deprived of American stores. An emphatic threat
would suffice, he thinks But suppose the bluff
failed. Suppose we were constrained to act up to
threat and strike down the billions of trade
whick our factories and farms draw from the
countries of the Entente. What then would become
of Americas brimmng prosperity? What then would
happen to the South's cotton? Unless we are pre-
pared to give up the great bulk OF our oversee
trade to sunder ourselves from the best customers
we have in times of war peace, and to share the
bleak isolation of Germany herself, we shall do
we'll to go very cautiously in threatening an en-
barge against the Allies. ::
We doing England and France favor by
selling them munitions and foodstuffs prices.
We are simply gathering riches from their urgent
needs. But should we refuse to sell them the ne
cessares for which, they willing to pay in good
round sums and which their controlSof the seas
enables them to transport, We should commit an
outrage against neutrality and, in such war as
this, crime against democracy. We do not know
just what England and her allies would do in that
event. but if they have spark of the pride and
spirit which we trust our nation possesses they
would scorn our conduct and tighten their blockade
1t is eminently proper that the United States
keep the record of its rights a neutral clear and
enter due protest against every infringement on it's
commerce, trusting to the cool future for fnan-
cial redress; but it is neither expedient
nor just that risk ostracism and shame if not
war itself on purely commercial and largely tech
meal issue. Senator Williams spoke the mind and
heart of the South, at least, when he said
Il don't want to see Dixie put in the atti-
tude of caring just much about property
about the lives of women and children sent
to their graves in the ocean. Until the cues
tion of the loss of women and children is set
tied, l do not intend TO nag the President or
this Administration. My people not ready
to put cotton and human life on the same
basis, especially when they have sense enough
to now that if the shipment of cotton to Eng
land and her allies cut off, cotton would
be worth about four cents now"
Senator Smith undoubtedly spoke for what he
considered the best interest of his constituents
He made it very clear that he does not desire war
and does not expect severance of trade relations
with the Allies He is to be credited with full sim
certify of purpose. 1t should be remembered, how
ever, that to threaten embargo on American
shipments to England would be playing with fire.
the consequences of which no one can foresee