Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-09
Ottumwa, Ia,
March 6, 1916.
Editor Courier:

Ottumwa. Ia,
March 6, 1916
Editor Courier: IN
Since reading the article of Major
Hamilton in the peoples pulpit criti.
cising those who differ with the presi-
dent, / am constrained to, believe that
Use In thea presentation of his con-
illusions, hence he regards 1t to be
the imperative duty Of congress to
sustain the president in his conten-
ton that the central powers sfS = be
held to a strict accountability folthe
loss of American lives if lost while
travelling on armed merchantmen of
their enemies. We all know the ma
jor to be stickler for law and order
and admire him for it, but we must
not accept the doctrine that interna-
,tional law would be violated If in time
Of, war an armed merchantmen is
sunk by submarine without warm
ing. The way to prevent it is not to
be armed The international law that
England now invokes has been obso-
lete for more than one hundred years.
1t was intended for pirates and with
the disappearance of pirates the ar
mament disappeared from merchant
How does it happen that this obso-
lete law, which was never intended
for any other purpose than to protect
merchantmen from pirates and I'M
civilized natives in the wilds of bar
barOus countries, is revived at this
time? Simply this and nothing more:
1t was found convenient to resurrect
this Anticipated compact of nations
al law when Germany began the de-
structiQn of ships carrying ammuni-
ton from America to their enemies.
Their right to destroy such cargoes
will not be denied. The next move
was to lay such obstacles in the way
as to insure the safe delivery Of those
cargoes. If, therefore, neutrals and
non-combatants. could be carried on.
those ships and Germany warned that
they, would: be held to strict account
for the loss Of life with a proper rat.
thing of sabers, they would acquiesce
in the demands of this powerful ma
ton. Germany, went far beyond the
expectations Of many American citi-
zens in adjusting its submarine war;
fare to the demands of the United
States, conceding everything but the
right of merchantmen to carry arma-
ment which the British admiralty de-
fines as cannon, rifles and machine
guns. The size of cannons Is not linn
tied and Of course would not be SO
large as to capsize the vessel when
fired. There would not be more
~ qne
less it was thought proper to provide
such, passengers as might be on their
way from America to enlist in the
British army. The machine guns
would be limited to skilled operators
who might be spared from the British
service, and yet Germany must halt
such floating arsenals and give Ameri-
can citizens time to get off before
sinking the craft or this government
will hold Germany to strict account
for the violation Of International law
in the interest Of humanity.
This position can only be sustained
by CHASING submarines as piratical
vessels. Then why should this nation
continue to build submarines if by
such rules they are to be rendered
and it certainly does
make them as useless for war pur-
poses as the skin boats of the Esqui-
maux. All! but it suits the purpose
Just at this time. The submarine is
here , to, stay and the world travel
must adjust itself to the new condi-
tons Ships carrying passengers and
freight must be unarmed and carry
of war. Citizens who
travel ON belligerent ships loaded with
and armed for defense
must be given ito understand that
their government will be absolved
from any responsibility for their lives.
This dangerous political dogma that
the congress should stand firm in sup
port Of the president Is a relic Of alb
solute monarchy and has no place in
q republic. 1t was precisely that sort
Of folly that overthrow the first
French republic and placed Napoleon
Bonaparte in the exalted position Of
of France. But the method
used by the French people in select
ing their emperor was far more demo
cratic than our senate has initiated
10 lift our pedagogue president into
dictatorship. Napoleon had vote
if confidence for first consul for life
amounting to 3,577,259 and only 800
against. Two years later, May 10,
1904, the senate of France said: "For
he glory, as for the happiness of the