Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-09

only with that with which we are
sending our dollars to be lost in the
bankruptcy Of European nations. We
need in this country every shell
which our factories can turn out for
the next five years. We need every
pound of powder that they can
manufacture. We need this for our
selves. An embargo upon their ex-
portation would conserve them to
US IL is inconceiyable that after his
trip West, whereon his preparedness
views met with such wholesome sup
port Of the American people, the
President should oppose a measure
the effect Of which win be to supply
this country with or retain therein
the most essential factor of de-
fe0so.
There has been great and grow
ing movement in this country for
the embargo alluded to- Some, per-
haps, have advocated its enactment
as a measure OF assistance to Ger
many. Others have opposed it on
the ground that it would be unfair
to Great Britain and her allies.
Americans generally, however, re-
gard it from a very different and
less subjective point Of view We
want the expectation Of arms and
ammunition stopped because, in the
first place, it is an unneutral traf-
fic We want it stopped because ii
makes the American people hypo-
critics in the eyes of the world, by
rendering us accessories before the
fact In the murder of our fellow
men. We want it stopped because
A nt-of mir
country OF munitions of war and the
material from which they are ere
ated, to fill their own pockets. We
want it stopped as measure Of self
defense against the unwarranted and
unparalleled infringements Of the
British Government upon our rights
on the high seas.
What simplenesa Of mind, or what
submergenco Of conscience ~ what
spirit that can say Patriotism, get
thee behind mel can be invoked
TO oppose an embargo to bring Great
Britain to a realization that we too
have rights upon the seas and over
them? The action of the British
Government during tho last eighteen
months is admitted by British and
American authorities alike to have
been Unprecedented and Illegal
There are only two things which we
can do to conserve our rights in the
premises. We can submit to British
aggression, as our anglophile friends
urge US to Go, until tho war is over,
and precedents harmful to ourselves
and to all neutrals have been written
irrevocably into the law OF nations,
and then seek remedy in arbitration
On we can break the hold Of British
naval power to-day, and establish
that freedom OF the seas for which
we have contended for over
hundred years. There arc only two
ways of forcing this yoke from our
neck. We can wait Until 2119 to
have q navy that can meet the Brit
ish and overcome It in open battle,
or we can meet British naval power
to-day with an embargo that will
bring it bloodlessiy to it's knees.
Tho action Of tomorrow is prob
lomatical 10 ita results The ex-
pedient Of to-day is certain, effective
and bloodless. We have only to tell
Great Britain what she has to do to
bring her TO book. The British
Government will take its hands off
American trade when we tell II to do
SO, and tell It in q manner to con-
vcy the impression that we mean
what we say. We can do this most
simply and effectively by an embargo
or tho expectation of those things
which are vitally necessary TO Great
Britain IN tho prosecution Of her war
against the Central Powers. Con-
flict did not follow Mr. Olney's ac-
fiOn iu ordering Great Britain out of
Venezuela. Backbone can always
call invertebrate bluff
What we need to-day, in the face
OF unparalleled British aggression
against our rights and interests, is
not speeches but specific action, This
could not take a better form than
that OF an embargo, which would
serve the purpose both Of regain
ing in the esteem OF the world our
position as people disinclined to
murder our fellow-men and of COM
pelling those who have disregardcd
our rights to respect them