Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-03
The MutineerS.

The MutineerS.
The attempted revolt in Congress has failed.
Those members of the House and Senate who. suf-
fering from hot heads and cold feet undertook to
raise a mutiny against the Administrations de-
tense of the country's honor and rights. have
gained their senses. if not their patriotism. The
effort to ram through resolution a bill forbid
ding Americans TO take passage on the liners of a
beligerent nation has been abandoned at least for
the time being. The macontents who hoped to
make political capital by thwarting the President,
and the opportunists who hoped to catch the Ger
man vote by deserving their nations colors
have been silenced. The policies of the United
States still be shaped at Washington, not at
Berlin-despite the schemes of foreign agents and
recreant politicians to the contrary.
Yet, who measure the difficulties which this
iIl-timed Outburst has raised, or the danger and
harm which it may entail? In this country
know that the insurgency against the Administra-
tion's course in the submarine issue minority
affair and did not represent the American mind.
But the foreign Offices of Vienna and Berlin may
construe il quite otherwise As the New York
World convincingly says;
After what has recently happened in
Washington. Germany may logically assume
that no matter what American rights are
violated, there will be nothing to fear from
protest against Germany's slaughter of de-
fenseless Americans the high seas but that
the Congress which represents the American
people will take Ohense, whatever the
crime against Americans may be.
Once it is evident to the German Government
that its pledges TO the United States need not
49, be kept that the Congress of the United States
is a coward, and that the war-making power
will submit to any measure of humiliation
hfch he m ne
way is paved TO certain disaster"
The Bryanesaue idea that the only way to pre-
serve peace is by submitting insult is the
way to precipitste with Germany. The craven
assumption that the best way to work out a diplo-
matte problem is by surrendering national rights
and national seIf-respect is the inevitable way to
make such problem doubly dangerous. Much of
our difficulty With Germany and Austria in months
past is ascribed TO Mr.. Bryans reported remark to
a Teutonic diplomatist at Washington that the
firm language of our first note the Lusitania
intended for home consumption rather than the
declaration of a serious purpose. Berlin naturally
inferred that we're merely talking when said
would omit mo word or act" needfu to enforce
American rights, and accordingly Berlin continued
TO parry and bubble and postpone. That inference
was strengthened when Mr.. Bryan deserted the
Administration rather than sign succeeding note
of an even milder tone. Germany concluded that
both the Government and the people of the United
States were divided on the submarine issue and
that she might continue to trihe she pleased
with questions involving the nations interests and
sovereignty.
The Congressman and Senators who Joined the
recent revolt against the Presidents foreign policy
repeated this recreance at still more critical
moment. BY misrepresenting the American atti-
tUde they have encouraged Germany to feel that
she may go any length in submarine outrages with
out being called TO account. BY proposing that the
United States actually forbid its citizens exercise
an unquestionable right simply because a foreign
despotsm threatens TO ignore that right they have
added fuel to Germany's lawless fire.
Certainly it is to be hoped that the Presidents
triumph over this attempted rebellion in Congress
will duly impress the German Government. But
If Germany. taking her cue from the Bryan-Bern-
storn element in Congress. carries a submarine
campaign in defiance OF law and humanity and in
so doing kills American citizens the high seas
the Representatives and Senators who are
whimpering of peace will be largely to blame for
the war that almost inevitably will follow.
For the sake of peace as well as honor it is to
be hoped that we have heard the last of crnging
proposals to disclaim abridge American rights.
That sort expediency forfeits respect and invites
aggression. President Wilson happily said in
recent speech at the Grdiron dinner that the point
in national affairs never lies along the lines of
sxpediency."
ct always rests in the field of principle.
The United States was not founded upon any
principle OF expediency; il was founded upon
profound principle of human liberty and OF
humanity; and whenever il bases its policy
upon any other foundations than those. it
builds on the sand, and not upon solid rock"
The Congressman Senator who acts upon ex-
pediency instead of principle in the present issue is
unworthy of his State and his nation.
Between Germany and congress, the president