The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-08

troubled in many a day. In the same
letter Senator stone gives his own at
titude. He wrote:
Much as / hate TO radically dis
agree with you. / md II impossible FOR
my sense of duty and responsibility
to consent to plunge this nation into
the vortex OF this world-war because
Of she unreasonable obstinancy OF any
OF the powers. on the one hand, or
on the other hand. OF foolhardiness'
amounting to a sort of moral treason
against the Republic of our people
reckiesSly risking their lives on armed
helligerent ships. cannot escape the
conviction that such would be as
monstrous as TO he indefensible.'
HE intimates that in that he dis
agrees with the President. What did
tho President say?
This Is the language OF President
Wilson, or the sentiment of President
Wilson, according to Senator Stone:
Furthermore, that you would con-
slider II your. duty, II German war
ship should fire upon an armed mer-
chant vessel OF the enemy upon which
hold Germany TO strict account
How are you going to hold a bel
ligerent power to strict account in the
midst OF war, except by giving his
passport 10 It's representative and en-
ploying force? Senator Stone said he
hated 10 disagree with the President.
Let me call your attention now to
what the President said IN his letter
in reply to Senator Stone.
" II the clear rights OF American
citizens should unhappily be abridged
or denied by any such action, We
should. II seems to me, have in honor
he rr,Yf V-cl
would be
Protect them at any hazard. he
says. and Senator Stone said that he
would not go 10 war. and he hated
to disagree with the President. And
he said that he and the other gentle
men present were never 80 uneasy and
disturbed in their lives as after that
conve rsation with the President.
What did the President say? AnsW er
me not as partisans You say yon
want 10 answer this question as
American patriots. You have an OPP
portunity TO do it. Do you propose
to give the option 80 any man who
says that If on that ship which went
over two or three days ago. contain
ing an American who stated In New
York that he had run the blockade
thee or four times and he enjoyed
the thrill, that II that ship Is sunk and
that American goes to the bottom OF
the sea, we will enforce his rights
against Germany? You have an OPP
portunlty to answer that question,
You can answer it, as has been said
here many times today, either az
partisans or as patriots.
Presidents Decree.
THE trouble is that the Presden,
wants not only executive initiative
but he wants the right to issue the
ultimatum. Senator Stone in that let
ter betrayed 1t all.
4 dislike to agree with you, but
l cannot agree that this ia justifica-
ton for going to war
Cyclone" Davis, OF Texas, inter
rupted with a deep Amen"
Thanks, dear brother" said Repre-
sentative Cooper and he resumed his
speech.
mfr. Speaker. we hear much about
honor" he said The word honor
has been used here several times TO.
day. We have been called dishonor.
able because we wish to have these
people warned and because we do not
wish to have a war for very trivia
cause The word honor Is a WORD
used with many different meanings
and frequently without meaning. Like
religion 1t often sits lightly on the
tongues of those whose hearts do not
recognize II, and too often do we
hear-persons pIrporting to pledge
their secret word OF honor who ART
bankrupt in all that Ia really sacred
/ or honorable"