The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-03

enough for us to stand, but our mails
are not sacred from the touch of hands
and ships carrying our mails are no
more secure from her Interference
than would be cargo Of cannon.
We have not the least doubt but that
England has her finger now on the
international law that guarantees her
the right to rifle our mails at her
pleasure. Only a few days ago Swe-
den requested our government to join
her in a protest against this outrage
Of England's, but Sweden received no
encouragement from us. These are the
diliatory methods that have marked
our dealing with England, and these
same methods are now under review
by a critical public.
The recent decision that England
has come to in regard to arming her
merchant ships has caused Germany
to declare a sJfb-sea war on armed
merchant ships. The one thing pc
culiar about this declaration of Ger
many's is that both the President and
Secretary Lansing cOncurred in Ger
many's right to declare a sub-sea war
on these merchant ships, but immedi-
ately their views become known, a
howl went up with such piercing in
tensity that 1t penetrated the remotest
corner of tho White House and there
was a sudden revising of opinions.
The opinion of both the President and
Mr.. Lansing was that Germany was
right in contending that armed mer-
chant ships could only be looked on
as auxiliary cruisers of the British
navy and claimed the right to attack
them without notice. There is not the
least doubt but England fears the COM
ing sub-sea war, and is firing every
mine at her command to swing Wash
ington over to her Interpretation of
the law regarding armed merchant
ships
The large manufacturing plants, es-
pecially those which have large war
orders on their books, are doing all
they can to prevent any recognition of
.Germany's right to attack armed mer-
chant ships. The President now de-
clines to even warn American citizens
from taking passage on armed mer-
chant ships or deny them a passport
for travelling on such ships His con-
tention is that he does not want to
interfere with or abride the rights Of
the people.
Prior to the above mentioned howl
il never occurred to the President or
Mr.. Lansing that such a warning
would be any interference with the
peoples rights.
A great deal has been said in re-
gard to the manner in which a mer-
chant ship could legally carry arms
and yet be a dear little craft as in
nocent as a cooling dove. Now this
smacks so strong cd deception that it
is useless to discuss 1t. England has
refused to not arm her ships and could
any one with a thimble full of brains
doubt that when she does arm her
ships she will do it in the strongest
possible manner, and indeed she would
be foolish to do anything else. So far
as this government debating the num-
Der of guns or the caliber or on what
part of the ship they shall be mounted
is sheer nonsense; it would be as use
| less as If we dictated when and how
often King George should pare his toe
nails.
The President is fearful If We make
any concession to Germany in this
matter it will call for other and larger
| concessions, however there is another
feature connected with this question
should the President resolutely hold
to his present opinion that he will moi
warn Americans to avoid travelling on
armed merchant ships. that he will
allow them passports, and hold Ger
many responsible for their lives, he
strikes a fearful blow at effectual pre-
paredness for our country. AS an IL
lustration, suppose We should have
war with Japan and her merchant
ships should do as England's mer-
chant ships are doing, arm themselves
and then further protect themselves by
making breastworks of passengers
of neutral nations TO insure the safe
landing of the instruments of death %
us, this is Just what Mr.. Wilson's pol
icy would do for us In case we were
engaged in war
II practically eliminates the subma-
rine as a means of defense and leaves
US unguarded and almost helpless on
many hundred miles OF our coast line
We make no pretense OF any knowl'
edge of International law, but there Il
a law Of unbiased common sense thai
should be applicable in this case
Would the President be making any
concession to Germany to safeguard
the lives Of Americans by refusing Il
grant them passports or warning then