Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-09
THE MISSION OF THE U. s.


over the proper methods of submarine
warfare, President Wilson should not
blind himself to the fact that the
great majority of the people OF the
limited states do not want war.
II IS not that they do not want TO
fiRht against Germany, nor that their
sympathies lie with the allies. 1t is
a plain case OF not wanting to get into
the bloody struggle that Is devastat'
ing Europe and endangerlng the CIVIL
ization of the world.
It is in the power Of President VII
son to so conduct the foreign relations
of this country that we will, per1orce'
hear the call to arms. NO reasonable
man will deny that the president has
whole box Of matches, any one OF
which might start war conf1agratlon.
There is no question but that this
country can be dragged into the war.
Ponder well, President Wilson, De-
fore running any chances. What have
we to gain by getting into the Europ-
can war?
True there are differences that en-
broil us with both sides of the strug-
Cling nations. German submarines
have sunk ships on which there were
Americans. That was not IN accori
with international law, nor the laws OF
humanity, but what business did tnose
Americans have that was SO important
that it stood above the liability OF get
ling the nation into war to avenge
heir death?
Then again, Great Britain has as
h1med rights not granted to her by III
iernational law. She has played havoc
with neutral shipping and has caused
Americans to lose millions OF dollars
by the seizure and contiscation OF legal
shipments to belligerent or neutral
ports. But when has there been war
in which the commercial interests OF
neutrals did not suffer- so that IS no
reason why we should go to war with
the British and their allies.
The truth is that we have no lustifl-
able cause for engaging in the Europ-
ean war on either side or against
either party. We have grievances
against both sides, but not of sucn mo.
ment that they call for declarations OF
war We have nothing to gain COM
mensurate with what we would lose ny
going to war with one or announcer ol
the European powers.
On the other hand, we "oulo lose
the greatest card we now mold IN our
hand. We would cease to be the great
est and most powerful NEUTRAL ma.
tion in the world All possibility OF
our playing useful and powerful par,
in the f1anl peace negotiations "oulu
he gone. Our prestige In the cause OIL
humanity and world peace would W
lost. Instead of being at the neao o,
the peace table where our WORDS wiz
have great weight, we would OCCUPY
camp chair outside the main c.rcle
and as a factor in the destinies OF the
world in the building up or the nam,
tenance of civilization, the Unlteu
States would cease to count.
We owe 1t to that same cause OF n''-
manitv. which President Wilson Cues
to keep out of the European struggle
while there exists no greater cause lot
rarticination than now. We owe 1t to
The cause of humanity to strengthen
our position as its champion, ratnef
than to join and become one OF the
fighters. him.
self: the nation is for peace-no1 peace
at any price, nor peace because we are
too proud to fight, nor peace because
we cannot agree on which side to en-.
list-but peace because our own pest
interests and the best interests OF the
whole world demand that this great
country keep close guard over the des'
tiny of the world.
The peace negotiations which Will
occur at the close OF the present war
will mark an epoch in history and for
the United States to occupy an inslg,
nificant position in those councils Will
be a blot upon its record. This admin
istration should certainly do nothing
that will limit its influence IN the
events which are soon to come. All
wars have an end and this nation mas
its mission to perform at the end OF
this war It must keep itself in posi-
ton where it can perform this mis-
sion.
During the present agitation in Iowa
for better roads, it will be OF interest,"
to know how certain portions OF Penn
sylvania got the excellent roads which
are the envy of people In many other
parts of the country. The anthracite
repion furnishes an example OF one