The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-03-24


done. On the 28th of April the Amer.
lean vessel Gushing was attacked and
crippled by German aeroplane. On
the LIST Of May the American vessel
Gulfight was torpedoed and sunk by q
German submarine and two or more
were killed. yet nothing was
done. On the It'll Of May the Lusita-
mia was torpedoed and sunk by Ger
man submarine and more than 100
Americans and LOO other noncom-
batants were drowned. The very thing
which our government had warned
Germany she must not do Germany
did Of set purpose and in the most con-
temptuous and shocking way. Then,
when all America was stirred to the
depths, our government addressed an
other note to Germany. 1t repeated
it's assertion of American rights and
renewed its bold declaration Of pur-
pose. 1t declared again that the Amer
lean government must hold the i'm
perial German government to a strict
accountability for any infringement of
those rights, intentional or incidental"
and it declared that it would not "omit
any word or any act necessary to the
performance Of its sacred duty Of main
tanning the rights of the United States
and its citizens and of safeguarding
their free exercise and enjoyment"
Still nothing was done and long
and technical correspondence ensued,
haggling over petty questions of de-
tail, every American note growing less
and less strong and peremptory until
the Arabic was torpedoed and sunk
and more American lives were destroy
ed, and still nothing was done, and
the correspondence continued until the
allied defense against German subma-
rine warfare made it Improbable and
led to its abandonment. and the cor
respondence Is apparently approaching
its end without securing even that par
tial protection for the future which
might be found in an admission that
the destruction Of the Lusitania was
forbidden by law. The later CORE
spOndence has been conducted by our
state department with dignity, but it
has been futile. An admission of liza
bility for damages has been secured.
but the time for real protection to
American rights has long since passed
The brave words with which we be-
gan the controversy had produced no
effect, because they were read in the
light Of, two extraordinary events.
One was the report Of the Austrian
ambassador Mr.. Dumba, to his gov
eminent that when the American note
Of Feb. 10 was received he asked the
secretary of state, Mr.. Bryan, whether
It meant business and received an an
swer which satisfied him that it did
not. but was intended for effect at
home In America.
"Too Proud to Fight"
The other event was the strange and
unfortunate declaration of the presi
dent in a public speech in Philadelphia
the fourth day after the sinking Of
the Lusitania that "a man may be toe
proud to fight" Whatever the Aus
txaan ambassador was In fact told by
the secretary Of state, the impression
which he reported was supported b!
the events which followed. Whateve
the president did mean, his declaration
made in public at that solemn time
amid the horror and mourning Of al
our people over the murder Of thei
children, was accepted the world owe
as presenting the attitude Of the Amer
lean government toward the protection
of the life and liberty of American
citizens In the exercise Of their jus
rights, and throughout the world tn
phrase ''too proud to fight" became
byword Of derision and contempt 10
the government Of the United States.
Later. In another theater Of war-th
Mediterranean-Austria, and perhap
Turkey also, resumed the ,pracdc'
The Ancona and then the Persia WEI
destroyed, and more Americans WEI
killed. Why should they not resun
the practice? They had learned to b.
lieve that, no matter how shocked q
American government might be, !
resolution would expend itself
words. They had learned to beiie'
that It was safe to kill Americans. an
the world believed with them.
Shaking Fist and Finger.
No man should draw pistol WI
dares not shoot. The government IN
shakes its fist first and Its finger aite
ward fails into contempt. Our dip!
macy has lost Its authority ana Inn
ence because we have been brave
words and irresolute In action. M,
may say that the words OF our dip
matic notes were justified; men M
say that our inaction was 5ustihed. D
NO man can say that both We're WI
and creditable.
have said that this government &c
the moral forces Of the world py =
truly interpreting the spirit or
American democracy.
Tho American democracy stanos
something more, than beef ana cott
and grain and manufactures; stan
for something that cannot DO measut
by rates Of exchange and does NOT = :
or fall with the balance OF trace. !