The Elbert County tribune., 1916-04-21

least passenger ships would not be thus
dealt with. and yet IL has again and
ers to disregard those assurances with
entire impunity.
Refers to the Lusitnnfa Outrage.
Great liners like the Lusltania and
the Arabic. and mere ferry boats like
the Sussex. have been attacked with
out moments warning. sometimes
before they had even become aware
that they were in the presence of au
armed vessel of the enemy, and the
lives of nom -combatants. passengers
and crew have been sacrificed whole
sale In manner which the govern
ment OF the United States cannot but
regard as wanton and without the
slightest color OF Justification.
,.an no si .mi, u ot & any kind has In fact
and destruction OF merchantmen of all
kinds and nationalities within the wa
ters, constantly extending In area
whore these operations have been car
ried on; and the roll of Americans
who have lost their lives on ships thus
attacked and destroyed has grown.
month by month. until the ominous
toll has mounted into the hundreds.
Sussex Case Rivals LusitnnIn.
One OF the latest and most shocking
Instances Of this method of warfare
was that Of the destruction OF the
French croas-channol steamer Sussex.
II must stand forth as the sinking OF
the steamer Lusltania did, as so sing
ularly tragical and unJustlfiable as to
l.
the inhumanity OF submarine warfare
AZ the commanders OF German vessels
have for the last twelve months been
conducting II.
If this Incident stood alone some ex-
i>planatlon, some dlsavowal by the Ger
man government some evidence OF
criminal mistake or wilful disobedience
on the part OF the commander of the
vessel that fired the torpedo might be
sought or entertained; but, unhappily.
II does not stand alone.
Recent events make the conclusion
| inevitable that 1t is only one Instance,
even though II be one OF the most ex-
treme and distressing instances. of the
spirit and method of warfare which
the Imperial German government has
| the first exposed that government to
the reproach of thrusting all neutral
| rights aside in pursuit of it's immedi-
ate object
| United States Hns Hoped In Win.
The government of the United States
has been very patient. At every stage
| of this distressing experience OF trag-
edy after tragedy In which It's own
tc be restrained from any extreme
course OF action or of protest by q
| thoughtful consideration of the extra
| ordinary circumstances of this unpre-
cedented war, and actuated In all that
l. said or did by the sentiments of
genuine friendship which the people of
| tained and continue to entertain
| toward the German nation.
| II has. of course. accepted the sue
1 cessive explanations and assurances OF
the imperial German government as
given in entire sincerity and good
faith, and has hoped, even against
hope, that 1t would prove to be pos
siblo for the German government SO
| to order and control the acts OF Its
naval commanders as to square its
policy with the principles OF humanity
as embodied in the law of nations.
1t has been willing TO walt until
the Significance of the facts became
| IA ufRIV IN f4t z "a nd u,,ar
ible of but one Interpretation. That
point has now unhappily been reached.
The facts are susceptible of but one
Interpretation.
| Tho Imperial German government
has not been able to put any limits
| or restraints upon Its warfare against
either freight or passenger ships.
Demands U-Boat Raids End.
1t has. therefore, become painfully
evident that the position which this
government took at the very outset is
submarines for the destruction of any
ehemy's commerce is OF necessity.
because of the very character OF the
vessels employed, and the very meth
ods OF attack which their employment,
| Of course, Involves, Incompatible with
the principles of humanity. the long
| established and incontrovertible rights
of neutrals. and the sacred immunitles
| OF non ombatants.
have deemed It my duty, there
| fore, to say to the imperial Ger
man government that IL 1t is still
| Its purpose to prosecute relentless
and indiscriminate warfare against
| vessels of commerce by the use
of submarines, Notwithstanding the
| in, possibility of conducting that war
fare in accordance with what the gov
ernment OF the United States must
| consider the sacred and indisputable
| rules of International law and the uni
versally recognized dictates of human
! ity. the government of the United
States is at last forced to the conciu-
sion that there is but one course that
!. can pursue. and that unless the Inn
Immediately declare and effect an
| abandonment of Its present methods of
warfare against passenger and freight.
carrying vessels, this government can
| have no choice but to sever diplomat
| /, relations with the government of the
German empire altogether
| This decision l have arrived at with
| the keenest regret; the possibility of
| the action contemplated, 1 am sure,
| all thoughtful Americans will look
| forward to with unaffected reluctance:
but we cannot forget that we are in
some sort and by tho force OF circum
the rights of humanity. and that we
cannot remain silent while those
| rights seem in process of being swept
utterly away in the mselstrom of this
terrible war.
We owe 1t to due regard for our
| own rights as nation. to our sense
rights OF neutrals the world over, and
| to just conception of the rights of
mankind, to take this stand now. with
the utmost solemnity and firmness.
have taken II, and taken II In the
confidence that it will meet with your
approval and support. All obedient
men must unite in hoping that the i'm
perial German government. which has
ih their circumstances stood as the
champion OF all that we are now con
tending for In the interest Of human
ity. may recognize the justice of our
demands and meet them in the spirit
In which they are made.