Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-20
A VIRTUAL ULTIMATUM
TINE Presidents message to Con-
= gress and his note to Germany
are hefnre the country The

ME ITeslueut heseaso " SOh-
= gress and his note to Germany
] are before the country. The
note constitutes a virtual ultimatum
to Germany and his message to Con-
gress is not so much a bid for sup
port as a recital of the executives
position, assumed without regard to
the views of the legislative branches
of the government on the subject.
| Both documents are couched in
strong and unmistakable language
language that scarcely can be con-
strued as having more than one mean
ing. That the views expressed therein
should have been written at the every
alter the fact that at this time un-
questionably they reflect the senti-
ments of a large majority of patriotic
and d-blooded Americans. Doubt
less had the President so spoken when
all European nations at war were
bidding for the favor of the United
States, neither Germany with her
"frightfulness" on the seas nor Great
Britain with her offensive methods of
blockade and seizure would have
dared to do other than comply with
American demands. Many a human
life and many a fair ship would have
been saved by prompt and vigorous
definition of American rights at the
very beginning of hostilities.
But all that is done with and past
recall. The President has done finally
what he should have done at first.
America is face to face with a break
in diplomatic relations with Germany.
The imperial government must do one
of two things, and promptly. Either
it must withdraw altogether from its
illegal warfare against merchant and
passenger ships or 1T must be pre-
pared to have its ambassador to the
United States sent home and all
friendly relations severed. 1t is in
conceivable that Germany will do the
first, in view of the fact that the
Kaiser has affixed the stamp of his
imperial approval upon the torpedo
ing of the Sussex by decorating with
the order of the crossed swords the
commander of the vessel that fired
the shot. The next step, should Ger
many decide to continue the sub
marine campaign, would be toward
war. The severing of friendly rela-
tions would not of itself bring on
hostilities, but the torpedoing of an
other vessel without warning virtually
no doubt would be so considered by
Washington.
1t may be idle to speculate upon
the part this nation would play in a
conflict that may never materialize,
but the topic is one that is engaging
the minds of millions of Americans
to-day. In the first place there
would be a call to arms and the rails
ing of a volunteer army that in all
likelihood would never leave the
United States and which would never
war would be followed by an imme-
date alliance, doubtless, with the
entente allies, in which the part of
the United States would be to supply
munitions and supplies and convoy
the same across the Atlantic by means
of our fleet. On the navy would fall
the burden of the war, insofar as
America is concerned. These sup
plies would be carried in the German
ships now in our harbors, $40, 900, 900
worth of which would fall into our
udlluS at lilS HOSlllllieS De-
gan. Germany is not in position to
invade England, much less the United
States, and joint peace would pre-
clude such a possibility in the future.
But nobody in the United States
wants war, however advantageous the
moment may be for our getting into
the European conflict. and while
standing firmly with the government
in any eventuality that may arise
every true American will hope that
the long-standing friendly relations
between this country and Germany
will not be broken. That. however,
is matter that Germany and Ger
many alone must decide.
Paxtang knows how to observe Arbor
Day.
Drastic action is necessary IL the