The Washington times., 1916-02-24
THE PANIC in CONGRESS

The sudden development of some-
thing like panic in Congress, over
the international situation, is as un-
accountable as it is unexpected.
From the day of the Lusitania's de-
struction there has never been 4
time when this country could look
its international situation squarely
in the face without realizing, il it
used intelligence, that it might at
almost any time confront just such
a condition as now exists.
The deliberation with which the
German government overturned all
conventions of the sea when it sank
the Lusitania, ought to have con-
vinced any thinking man that Ber-
lin would not weakly yield after put
ting the policy Of submarine murder
into operation. If Berlin needed any
thing to strengthen its unyielding in
sistence, that has been supplied by
the vacillating policy of the United
States. 1t must be said, further,
that great sections of the American
public have been perfectly acquies-
cent in the attitude of their Govern
ment as it has progressively weak
ened its position. This is supreme
ly regrettable, but it is the fact.
Americans with any regard for
the traditions of their country's
past cannot but feel chagrined as
they compare the present disposition
of this nation Of an hundred millions
with that Of the little republic that,
in behalf Of civilization and human
ity, fought the Barbary pirates. 1t Is
not to be believed that, with the right
kind of leadership, the last year and
a half would have been marked by
the development of any such weak
ness in the national purpose. The
underlying difficulty is that this
country, possessing no confidence in
the capacity of its present Govern.
ment to manage affairs in a su.
preme crisis, wants to see that crisis
avoided.
Berlin has announced that it will
begin, on March 1, using submarine:
to sink armed merchant craft, with
out warning. The Department o.
State and the President are deter
mined that there shall be no accept
ance of such a rule, and that thil
country shall sever diplomatic rela
tions with the Teutonic powers If il
is enforced. The implications o
that act are obvious; but if nationa
self-respect is to be conserved, the,
cannot be permitted to change ou
course.
Instead, however, of going straigh
ahead and following the one cours
that is in honor open to us, ther
is serious proposal to repudiate ou
obligation to protect citizens VIII
may travel on armed merchantmen
to warn them to keep off such yes
sells. The fact that in the pas
American policy has permitted ou
own merchantmen to arm for defen
sive purposes seems to make no dit
ference; we must not assent to tn
same thing being done by merchant
men of other countries when the
are at war.
There is acute need for a revive
of the sturdy spirit of old-fashione
Americanism; Che kind of American
, ism that unquestioningly believe
, some things were worth making sac
rifices to preserve. The dispositio
of Congress to interfere with Tn
conduct of these delicate relation
through the proper channels cannC
be too strongly condemned. Th
Administration may have been dC
serving of criticism at times in tn
past, for hesitation where ther
should have been certainty and pos
tiveness; but when it is rectifyin
it's course and going straight ahea
in the right direction, Congressioni
faltering must not interfere
create new difficulties.