Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-08-01
VIC RULES ANIER1cA,s WAVES?


country one comparable with Mr..
Wilson's, for crowded calendar Of
errors, omissions and negligence.
The three years during which our
present Chief Executive has occupied
the White House and dominated the
Capitol will live in American history
as the most disgraceful chapter ever
written into it by an American
President.
They mark the first attempt of an
occupant Of the Executive Mansion
to return the American people to the
thrall Of an European Crown, and
though the attempt proved futile,
the stigma Of it is inerasable.
While processing sentiments of alb
solute neutrality and heralding his
policies in the market places of the
world, Mr.. Wilson has steered the
Ship Of State off the course of neu-
trality and entangled it in the net OF
Lis own folly SO irrevocably that it is
impossible to see any haven Of honor
ahead of us. That he has been able
to do this under the very eyes of the
people who chose him to serve them
speaks much for Mr.. Wilson's in
genuity of phrase and the faithful
ness with which he-and England
have been served by a large section
Of the press in this country. 1t
speaks little for the dignity of the
American nation.
A single instance, chosen from q
long list of acts of commission and
omission designed to make Eng
lands compelling necessity" our
own, is the Administration nom
chalant attitude toward the activi-
ties Of the British and French war
ships patrolling our coasts and stand
ing off our harbors to interrupt enemy
merchantmen.
When the institution of this patrol
at the beginning of the war was
brought to the Executives attention
by Senator Stone, Mr.. Wilson'S then
Secretary of State was directed to
reply that upon representations from
the Department OF State the append
ing vessels were withdrawn. The
representatives made at that time
clearly established the American
view of the impropriety Of belliger-
ent nations blockading neutral ports
three thousand miles from an enemy
port. The same contemptuous dis
regard by England met our protest
in this connection, that has met
every other protest which Mr. VIII
son has addressed to the British
Government; and was acquiesced in
by Mr. Wilson with the same spine
less servility with which he has ac-
cepted every other wrist slap adj
ministered by Sir Edward Grey. The
ink was not yet dry on Mr.. Bryan's
signature before the patrol was on
again--if it was ever interrupted
American vessels, flying the Amer
lean flag and plying between Amer
ican ports, have been seized within
sight of the American shore and
taken into British harbora Other
peaceful, neutral traders have been
held up and examined in American
waters. And all this after Mr.. Will
son avowed to the American people
that upon his representation such
conditions and the causative patrol
had been removed When Mr..
Hamilton Fish, by direction Of Presi-
dent Grant, ordered French cruisers
from our coasts, they went-and
they stayed away. The British
Navy may control the waves but
good practice and a decent regard
for our interests demand that we
assert our rights over those that lap
our shores.
At the present moment there is
lying in the harbor of Baltimore
German submarine merchantmen,
ready to put to sea on her return
trip to q home port. Just outside
the three mile limit a Gordon of Brit
ish and French warships has been
drawn, for the sole object of get
ting" her as soon as she passes out
Of territorial waters. The submarine
came to this country as ship Of
peace, bringing a cargo sadly needed
by our manufacturers. What Mr..
Wilson could not pass through the
British blockade Of neutral Holland
by fifteen months negotiation, Ger
many daring and ingenuity landed in
chant status Of the Deutschland has
of the American Government.
Yet the war craft of Germany's
enemies are permitted to lie in wait
for her under our very noses. The
Deutschland can take care of herself,
unquestionably, but is Mr.. Wilson
competent to take care of the rights
anu ulSHlLy VI blilA country
When the British BLOCKADE" Of
neutral Europe was instituted, he
characterized 1t as ineffective, Illegal
and consequently indefensible. Now
that the Germans have shown it to
be ridiculous, will he permit Great
Britain to extend 1t to this side Of
the Atlantic?
The strenuous efforts that he Eng
lish are making to destroy the
Deutschland were foreshadowed by
the action of the British Government
in purchasing Fulton's first sub
marine and scrapping it, lest it spell
the end of Britain's absolute control
of the seas. Small wonder at the
Consideration which the Deutsch-
lands exploits has caused in British
naval circles, but the United States
is not yet in business with Great
Britain for tho destruction Of useful
merchantmen. We have established,
by admitting the Deutschland to an
American harbor in the same manner
as we admit all merchant vessels, her
right to be treated on the high seas