Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-20
PRESS OF NATION UPHOLDS
PRESIDENTS U-BOAT STAND
Patience of u S. Tried to Point Where Forbearance of
Other Countries Would Have Ceased, Leading News
papers, in Editorial Opinions, Declare

Leading newspapers Of the country
commend President Wilson's latest note
to Germany and his address before the
Joint session Of Congress Extracts from
editorials to be printed this morning OBJ
tained for the EVENING LEDGER by tele-
graph last night follow:
NEW YORK TIMES;
IL wisdom and prudence have not
altogether fled from the minds of Ger
many's ruling statesmen, the Imperial
Government will make such reply 70
our note now Just laid before them as
will meet the earnest closing adiura-
tion of President Wilson's address TO
Congress- in which lhe expressed the
hone shared by all sober-minded men,
that Germany may recognize the jus
tice of our demands and meet them in
the spirit I'm which they are made
Our patience has been tried far beyond
the point where the forbearance OF
other nations would have ceased. VIII
the Imperial Government have the great
wisdom, the wise courage to let these
convincing documents be published
fully and freely by the press, to have
them spread broadcast throughout the
empire. where they may come to the
understanding of the people? We can
not doubt the fruit of such a showing.
NEW YORK SUN:
we must regard IL Cthe address) as
in part a repetition Of the true and now
too familiar indictment Of civilized
nation for Illegal practices, and in
mart n restatement of the Presidents
views concerning his responsibility. not
only for the protection OF American
rights. but also for the general interests
of humanity. The President went TO
Congress asking neither advice nor
expression of opinion, nor to gam leg
cation this morning ~ould have made
superfuous the delivery of the address
to the session of Congress; unless, in
deed, the President felt that his per-
sonal appearance at the Capitol
rendered the war-declaring department
of our Government in some sense
party to facts already accomplished py
the Executives independent action.
NEW YORK HERALD:
This is no time for division any
where in the United states. The coun-
try is on the brink of war. The Presl-
dent is right.
NEW YORK EVENING POST:
1t cannot be said that the Admins
tration has been headlong. only an ac-
emulation of grievinces-only re-
peated violation of pledges made to IL
by the German Government-has at ast
strained the Presidents patience to the
breaking point. He has at last found
himself at the point where further diplo-
matte parleyng seems to him fruitless
and where he must have definite and
binding answer from the German au-
thorties
NEW YORK. GLOBE:
II Is for Germany to decide whether
or not her barbarous conduct is to con-
tinue-conduct that Is subversive of
American rights and in contravention of
all laws of nations and of humanity:
This country, in justice to itself ana
it's traditions, can no longer he ac-
complice after the fact by treating the
perpetrator of crime as friend.
NEW YORK TRIBUNE:
If there is n definite result at last
whether diplomatic relations are broken
off or intercourse Is continued on the
basis of German dsavowal of the policy
of murder on the high seas-we shall
owe nothing to the long orgy OF words
which has passed in washington Tor
the last II months as modern Ameri-
"A can diplomacy Our issue With Ger
MANY can be settled now only by a dis
play of determination backed by force
NEW YORK WORLD:
The United States Government is not
seeking war with Germany. The Presi-
dent is not seeking war. There can be
no war unless Germany commits an
overt act of war, and If that Is what
Berlin is determined upon nothing that
the United States can do will prevent
it. except at n price in shame and sub
mission that no great nation will ever
pay; for IL It pays it has ceased TO
be a great nation and has forfeited its
rank.
NEW YORK EVENING MAIL:
It is a simple question that confronts
the men at washington. The question
is whether neutral America Is going to
war to force one bellgerent to live up to
the very letter of international law,
while the other is to have its hands free
TO violate the same law as 1t chooses.
BY our own words we are in an attitude
of unneutrality so long as we acquiesce
In the British stoppage of our food ex-
ports to Germany. Congress now de-
cides the question whether, without talk
ing any steps to remove our self
imposed stigma of unneutrality the
President is to have a war to prevent
Germany from illegally trying to starve
England as reprlsal against Eng
lands attempt unlawfully to starve Ger
many.
PHILADELPHIA RECORD:
1t is idle to send more notes to Ber-
lin. The resources of diplomacy have
been exhausted. The President can do
no more. The next step must be taken
either by the German Government or
by Congress, whose constitutional pre-
rogative II Is TO declare war, 1t
is our duty, not only to ourselves, but to
mankind to save what little remains
of international law, and to demand that
the rules of civilized warfare be re-
spected, or to cease TO have diplomatic
relations with the nation that fiOuts
them and affronts us. Germany must
Immediately cease its inhuman and un-