New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-06
The End.

niversary Of the Lusitania massacre the
German Government has answered the
ultimatum of the President of the United
States demanding that Germany abandon
and renounce a policy of submarine as
sassination.
Stripped of all unessential details, this
reply is a frank and deliberate declara-
ton that Germany, temporarily renounc-
ing the policy of numbering American
citizens. holds herself free to resume this
policy unless the United States shall break
down the British blockade which aims at
starving German subjects.
For a year the United States has en-
dured the slaughter of its men, its women
and its children. From the capital crime
of the Lusitania to the not less criminal
attack upon the Sussex Mr.. Wilson has
endeavored by the use of diplomacy to per-
suade the German Government to cease a
policv which destroyed American lives and
abolished neutral rights.
At the close of year, on an anniver-
sarv which is full of meaning to all Ameri-
can citizens. the German answer is before
him and before us. There is no longer
even a thin disguise over German purpose
Plainly. brutally, Mr.. Wilson and the
American people are told that they must
o+,ock Great Britain or endure German
terrorism.
Nearly two years ago the German Gov
ernnent served the same notice upon Bel
oium. "Give us free passage for our
troons or perish" This was the order.
BECOME our servants and our creatures
in an attack upon France or die 30
Germany spoke, turning to scrap OF
naper" her own pledge and all the pre-
cents of international law and common
humanity.
Relgium refused. and suffered. If Mr..
Wilson if the American people, refuse
1now to accept the German conditions the
herman note makes it clear that more
american women and children will be
slaughtered, more neutral lives, lives OF
the citizens of other nations, will be sacri-
feed to German purpose.
This. then, is the end. No nation can
submit to such conditions and maintain
its honor, its dignity or its safety No
nation can consent to attack another IN
der the threat of third. We cannot
make war upon Great Britain under Ger
man threats, and this is exactly what the
German note requires.
There is left to Mr.. Wilson precisely
on@course. There is only one answer that
80 Fan make to the German threats. lie
has demanded that American lives shall
NOT be taken, he has demanded it with all
the solemnity of an ultimatum coming
after long months of patient, all too pa
tient. endurance. He has been answered
nv an insolent and minatory note bid
ding him to become Germany's agent, de-
handing that his countrymen become the
Kaiser's recruits in a war upon Great
Britain and her Allies.
There is no longer any pretence about
the German policy. There is no longer
ovon the color or character of diplomatic
nbrase. We have come to the point where,
in our turn, we American citizens have TO
deal with the German policy of terrible
ness" expressed in phrase as well as in
action. 1t is demanded of us that we be-
come agents and allies of Germany-or
,ce our women and children mastered as
they were on the Lusitania.
II is not the moment for recrimination.
Il is not a time for criticism of the past
whatever mistakes, failures, weaknesses,
there have been hitherto, the moment
has come when il is necessary to break
with them and with all that concerns them.
We cannot now inveigh against the past;
our national honor, our national safety,
henceforth are at stake.
Mr.. Wilson induced the present crisis by
MS latest note. II is impossible not to be
lieve that he sent his ultimatum with
full realization that any answer but one
answer would mean immediate action a
complete severance Of diplomatic relations,
which is almost invariably the prelimi-
nary step toward war.