Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1916-04-26

German vessels have for the past
! twelve months been conducting
| it. If this instance stood alone. some
explanation, some disavowal by the
German government, some evidence
/ Of criminal mistake or wilful disobe-
| dience on the part of the commander
of the vessel that fired the torpedo
might be sought or entertained; but
unhappily it does not stand alone.
Recent events make the conclusion
| inevitable that it is only one instance,
even though it be one of the most ex-
treme and distressing instances, of
| the spirit and method of warfare
which the imperial German govern
ment has mistakenly adopted, and
which from the first exposed that gov
eminent to the reproach of thrusting
all neutral rights aside In pursuit OF
its immediate objects.
The government Of the United
States has been very patient. At ev-
cry stage of this distressing expert
ence of tragedy after tragedy in which
it's own citizens we're involved 1t had
sought to be restrained from any ex-
treme course of action or Of protest
by thoughtful consideration of the
extraordinary circumstances OF this
unprecedented war and actuated in
all it said or did by the sentiments OF
genuine friendship which the people
of the United States have always en-
tertained and continue to entertain to-
ward the German nation. 1t has. OF
course, accepted the successive expia-
nations and assurances of the impe-
rial German government as given in
entire sincerity and good faith, and
has hoped, even against hope, that 1t
would prove to be possible for the
German government SO to order and
control the acts OF it's naval comman-
ders as to square it's policy with the
principles of humanity as embodied
in the law of nations. 1t has been
willing to wait until the significance
of the facts became absolutely unmis-
taxable and susceptible of but one in
depreciation.
THAT point has now unhappfly been
reached. The facts are susceptible
of but one Interpretation. The impe-
rial German government has been I'M
able to put any limit or restraints
upon it's warfare against either freight
or passenger ships. 1t has therefore
become painfully evident that the po-
sition which this government took at
the very outset is inevitable, namely,
that the use of submarines for the de-
struction of an enemy's commerce Is
OF necessity, because of the very char
acter of the vessels employed and the
very methods of attack which their
employment of course involves, in
compatible with the principles of hui
mainly, the ong-established and fncon-
trovertible rights of neutrals, and the
sacred immunities of non-combatants.
Virtual UItimatum Sent.
Il have deemed it my duty, there
fore, to say to the imperial German
government that IL it is still its pur-
pose to prosecute ruthless and indis-
criminate warfare against vessels Of
commerce by the use of submarines.
Notwithstanding the now demon
strated impossibility of conducting
that warfare in accordance with what
the government of the United States
must consider the sacred and indis-
putable rules of international law and
the universally recognized dictates of
humanity. the government of the
United States is at last forced to the
conclusion that there is but one
course it can pursue; and that's unless
the imperial German government
should now Immediately declare and
effect an abandonment of it's present
methods of warfare against passenger
and freight-carrying vessels this gov
eminent can have no choice but to
sever diplomatic relations with the
government of the German empire al
together.
This decision 1 have arrived at
with the keenest regret; the possibil-
ity of the action contemplated | am
sure all thoughtful Americans will
look forward to with unaffected reluc-
lance But we cannot forget that we
are in some sort and by the force Of
circumstances the responsible spokes-
man Of the rights of humanity, and
that we cannot remain silent while
those rights seem in process of being
utterly swept away in the maelstrom
of this terrible war. We owe it to
due regard for our own rights as a
nation, to our sense Of duty as a rep
resentative Of the rights of neutrals
the world over, and to joint concep-
ton of the rights of mankind to take
this stand now with the utmost solem-
nifty and firmness.
Il have taken it, and taken It IN
the confidence that it will meet with
your approval and support. All sober
minded men must unite in hoping
that the imperial German govern
ment. which has in other circum-
stances stood as the champion OF all
- - ~, VOW oor1t fOr in the