Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-04-27


German submarine and an American
citizen was killed, but nothing was
done On the 2Sth Of April the Amer
lean vessel Gushing was attacked and
crippled by a German aeroplane. On
the LIST of May the American vessel
Gulfight was torpedoed and sunk by a
German submarine and two or more
Americans were killed, yet nothing was
done. On the 7th Of May the Lusita-
mia was torpedoed and sunk by a 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
its 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
accountability for any infringement OF
those rights, intentional or incidental
and 1t 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 a 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 1t
has been futile. An admission of la
bilitv 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
1t 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 presl-
dent in a public speech in Philadelphia
the fourth day after the sinking OF
the Lusitania that "a man may be too
proud to fight" Whatever the Aus
trian ambassador was In fact told by
the secretary Of state, the impression
which he reported was supported by
the events which followed. Whatever
the president did mean, his declaration,
made in public at that solemn time,
amid the horror and mourning OF all
our people over the murder OF their
children, was accepted the world over
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 just
rights. and throughout the world the
phrase 'too proud to fight" became a
byword Of derision and contempt for
the government of the United States.
Later. in another theater of Wharf.-The
Mediterranean-Aust and perhaps
Turkey also, resumed the practice.
The Ancona and then the Persia were
destroyed. and more Americans were
killed. why should they not resume
the practice? They had learned to be-
lieve that no matter how shocked the
American government might be, Its
resolution would expend itself IN
words. They had learned to believe
that it was safe to kill Americans, and
the world believed with them
Shaking Fist and Finger.
No man should draw pistol who
dares not shoot. The government that
shakes its fist first and its finger after
ward falls into contempt. Our diplo
macy has lost its authority and infu
ence because we have been brave II
words and irresolute in action. Mer
may say that the words of our diplo
matte notes were justified; men may
say that our inaction was justified, bu
no man can say that both were wise
and creditable.
l have said that this government los
the moral forces Of the world by no
truly interpreting the spirit or tn