Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-04-28

,are was that Of the destruction OF
he French cross-channel steamer
Sussex. 1t must stand forth, as the
sinking of the steamer Lusitania did.
as so singularly tragical and unjusti.
liable as to constitute a truly tevrible
example of the inhumanity of subma.
rine warfare as the commanders of
German vessels have for the past
twelve months been conducting
it. If this instance stood alone, some
some disavowal by the
German government, some evidence
of criminal mistake or Willful disobe-
dience on the part of the commander
of the vessel that fired the torpedo
might be sought or entertained; but
unhappily it does not stand alone.
Recent events make the conclusion
inevitable that it is only one instance.
even though it be one of the most ex-
treme and distressing instances, of |
the spirit and method of warfare
which the imperial German govern !
ment has mistakenly adopted. and
which from the first exposed that gov
ernment to the reproach of thrusting
all neutral rights aside in pursuit of
its immediate objects.
THE government of the United
States has been very patient. At ev-
cry stage of this distressing expert
ence of tragedy after tragedy in which
its own citizens were involved it had
sought to be restrained from any ex-
treme course of action or of protest
by thoughtful consideration of the
extraordinary circumstances of this
unprecedented war and actuated in
all it said or did by the sentiments of
of the United States have always en-
tertained and continue to entertain to-
ward the German nation It has, of
course, accepted the successive expla-
nations and assurances of the impe-
rial German government as given in
entire sincerity and good faith, and
has hoped, even against hope, that it
would prove to be possible for the
German government so to order and
control the acts of its naval comman-
ders as to square its policy with the
principles of humanity as embodied
in the law of nations. 1t has been
willing to wait until the significance
of the facts became absolutely unmis-
taxable and susceptible of but one in
depreciation.
That point has now unhappily been
reached. The facts are susceptible
of but one Interpretation. The impe-
rial German government has been un-
| able to put any limit or restraints
| upon it's warfare against either freight
| or passenger ships. It has therefore
become painfully evident that the po-
sition which this government took at
the very outset is inevitable, namely.
| that the use of submarines for the de-
struction of an enemy's commerce is
OF necessity, because of the very char
acter cf the vessels employed and the
very methods Of attack which their
/ employment of course involves, in
compatible with the principles of hu-
maGity, the long-established and incon-
trovertible rights of neutrals, and the
sacred immunities of non-combatants
/ Virtual UItimatum Sent.
Il have deemed it my duty, there
fore, to say to the imperial German
government that if it is still its pur
pose to prosecute ruthless and indis
criminate warfare against vessels o
commerce by the use of submarines
Notwithstanding the now demon
strated impossibility of conducting
that warfare in accordance with wha
the government of the United State!
must consider the sacred and indis
putable rules of international law ant
the universally recognized dictates o
humanity. the government of tn
United States is at last forced to tn
conclusion that there is but on
course it can pursue; and that unles
the imperial German governmen
should now Immediately declare an
effect an abandonment of it's presen
t methods of warfare against passenge
; and freight carrying vessels this goI
sever diplomatic relations with tn
: government of the German empire a
+ together.
E This decision | have arrived 6
a | with the keenest regret; the possihi
+ ity of the action contemplated | al
: sure all thoughtful Americans wi
t look forward to with unaffected relu
: tance. But we cannot forget that W
e are in some sort and by the force {
t circumstances the responsible spoke
J. man of the rights of humanity, an
t that we cannot remain silent viii
those rights seem in process of bein
# utterly swept away in the maelstrol
:, of this terrible war. We owe it to
a due regard for our own rights as
Q nation, to our sense of duty as a pr
S resentative Ct the rights of ueutra
l. the world over, and to a joint conce
y tion of the rights of mankind to tai
j. this stand now with the utmost solen
If nifty and firmness.
l. 'I have taken it, and taken it
Y the confidence that it will meet wit
r your approval and support. All sobe
70 minded men must unite in hopir
ir that the imperial German cover
e. ment, which has in other circul
b stances stood as the champion of q
D. that we are now contending for in Il
interest of humanity, may recogni
the Justice of our demands and me
k them in the spirit in which they a
r made"