The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-17
Tn. Wrong Don. TO Belgium.

The Wrong Done to Belgium.
The American people were entitled
not merely to feel. but to speak con
corning the wrong done to Belgium.
II was not like interference I'm the in
ternal affairs Of Mexico or any other
nation. for this was an international
wrong. The law protecting Belgium
which was violated was our law and
the law OF every other civilized couni
try That law was the protection OF
our peace and security. 1t was our
safeguard against the necessity OF
maintaining great ornaments and
wasting our substance In continual
readiness for war Moreover, that law
was written into q solemn and formal
convention, signed and ratified by Ger
many and Belgium and France and the
United States In which those other
countries agreed with us that the law
should be observed.
There was no question here OF inter-
fering in the quarrels OF Europe We.
had right to be neutral, and we were,
neutral as to the quarrel between Ger
many and France, but when as an in<
cident to the prosecution OF thar
quarrel Germany broke the law which,
we were entitled to have preserved
and which she had agreed with us to
preserve We were entitled to be heard
In the assertion OF our own national
right
Neutral Between Right and WrOnsi
Yet the American government ac-
quiesced in the treatment OF Belgium
and the destruction OF the law OF ma,
lions. without one word OF objection
or dissent to the reputation Of law
or the breach of our treaty or the VIC
lation of justice and humanity in the
treatment OF Belgium our government
enjoined upon the people OF the United
States an Understanding and all EN-
bracing neutrality, and the president
admonished the people that they must
be neutral In all respects in act ana
word ana thought and sentiment. We
were TO be not merely neutral as to the
quarrels OF Europe, but neutral as to
the treatment OF Belgium, neutral be-
tween right and wrong, neutral be-
tween justice and injustice, neutral be
tween humanity and cruelty, neutral
between liberty and oppression Our
government did more than acquiesce,
for In tho FIRST Lusitania note, with the
unspeakable horrors OF the conquest
Of Belgium still fresh In our minds, on
the very day after the report OF the
Bryce commission on Belgian atroci.
ties. II wrote these words to the gov-
ernment OF Germany;
Recalling the humane and enlightened
attitude hitherto assumed by the imperial
German government In matters Of inter
national right and particularly with re-
\ gard to the freedom OF the seas, having
learned 70 recognise the German views
| and the German influence In the held or
international obligation a. always engaged
upon the side OF Justice and humanity, etc.
And so the government OF the United
States appeared a. approving the treat
ment OF Belgium. IL misrepresented
the people OF the United States IN that
acqulescence and apparent APPROVAL
II was not necessary that the United
States should go 10 war In defense
OF the violated law. A single official
depression by the government Of the
United States. a single sentence deny.
ing assent and recording disapproval
OF what Germany did In Belgium,
would have given TO the people OF
America that leadership to which they
were entitled in their earnest cropping
for the light IL would have ranged
behind American leadership the con,
science and morality OF the neutral
world.
IL was not 70 be. The American