Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-25
SPEAKING THE
PUBLIC MIND
Cowardice of Congress in the Face
of a Possible Break With
Germany-Other Views
of Readers

Sir-Every red-blooded American must sup
port the President in the present crisis. The
issues involved in it are not new. They
have been before the country since February
12 of last year, when the State Departments
protest against the German submarine policy
published.
The President said then, through his
Secretary of State:
If the commanders of German vessels Of
war should act upon the presumption that
the flag of the United States not being
used in good faith and should destroy on the
high seas an American vessel or the lives
of American citizens, II would be difficult
for the Government of the United States
to view the act in any other light than
indefensible violation of neutral rights
which II would be very hard indeed. to
reconcile with the friendly relations so
happily subsisting between the two Gov
ernments,
There is no mistaking the meaning of these
words. Congress in session at the time
and it under the control of the same
leaders who are now directing it's policy. The
whole nation indorsed the direct and straight.
forward statement of the position of the Gov
ernment.
Germany insisted it's right to attack
neutral shipping, and on March 2S, she tor
pedoed the Falaba with American citizens on
board. On May 7 she sank the Lusitana
after giving notice of her intention through
advertisements in the newspapers, given out
from her Embassy In Washington. More
than 100 Americans lost their lives in this
most outrageous violation of the rights of
noncombatants in the history of civilized
warfare. The position of this Government
set forth in the note published on February
IL, was restated in a note of May 13, in which
1t was further said:
Expressions of regret and offers of repara-
tion in case Of the destruction of neutral
ships sunk by mistake, while they may sat
isfy international obligations, If no loss of
life results cannot Justify excuse praC-
tice. the natural and necessary effect of
which is to subject neutral nations and
neutral persons to new and immeasurable
risks. The Imperial German Government
will not expect the Government of the
United States to omit any word act nee
essary to the performance of its sacred
duty of maintaining the rights of the United
States and it's citizens and of safeguarding
their free exercise and enjoyment.
Nearly 10 months have passed since this
warning. The time has been consumed i'm the
exchange of notes with Germany and in con-
versations between the German Ambassador
and the Secretary of State in Washington
and similar conversations between the Amer.
lean Ambassador and the German Foreign
Office i'm Berlin. The President has been
subjected to severe criticism for what has
been described as a weak and vacillating
policy. He has been trying to settle the ques.
tion without war. He has thus far succeeded
in preventing war, though no one but himself
and those in his confidence know how near
the verge the nation has been. The gravity
of the situation was so great that he left
Washington in January to tell the country
Of the imperative necessity OF immediate
preparation for national defense.
If Congress has been ignorant of what has
L
grave issues at stake, IL is the only body which
has failed to understand the situation.
Germany's announcement that she was TO
resume her submarine warfare upon merchant
ships March l has served merely to throw
the negotiations back TO where they were
on February IL. 1915, when made our
first protest.
Many persons believe that If we had given
Ambassador Bernstorh his passports when he
warned Americans against sailing on the Lusi-
tania and had accompanied them with a vigor-
GUS denuncation of the barbarity of making
war upon passenger steamers loaded with non
combatants the Lusitania would have been
ahoat today and its passengers would have
been still alive, But when there is a possi-
bility that the firmness of the President may
result in diplomatic break with Germany at
this late date Congress is afraid
The logic of events demands that Germany
respect the wishes of the United States II
she desires TO continue on friendly terms with
us, But when It begins 10 look as If We should
have TO abide by the consequences OF our de-
termination to demand respect for the old
International agreements regarding the con
duct Of war on the sea. or back down. the
brave men in Congress are demanding that
we back down.
Fortunately for the honor and selfrespect
Of the country, the Presidents obstinacy Is
serving him in good stead. He has refused
70 see the chairman OF the Foreign Relations
Conanittse OF the House OF Representatives
again and he has let Congress understand