The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-02
For America or Germany.

Congress will accede to President Wilson's ur-
gent demand for vote upon the question whether
or not the government of the United States is to
warn its citizens to abandon, at the behest of Ger
many and Austria their rights to traverse the
on lawful errands of peace; and Congress will
not thus to be warned. No party issue is involved.
Republicans and Democrats must and will vote to
sustain the President in his refusal to recognize
the right of murder and piracy which the Teutonic
nations assert.
7 There need be no pcrplexity in Congress, and
probably there is none, over the motive inspiring
the Presidents demand for such a vote 1t is
frankly, clearly and convincngly set forth in his
letter to Representative Pou. Governments with
which the President and his advisers have been
negotiating for year for the purpose of obtaining
unreserved recognition of Americas undoubted
rights upon the high seas have magnihed the re-
volt in the Presidents own party in Congress
against his international policies into demonstra-
ton of a divided nation. 1t may reasonably be
assumed that the revolt was organized through
the efforts of agents of Germany and Austria. 1t
and the time has come when the leaders of it, the
tools of the Tcutons in Senate and House. are
seeking opportunity to stink into obscurity I'M
recognized; but in Berlin and Vienna they are
pointed to as leaders Of party willing to break
with their own representatives in the White House
because he refuses to acquiescc in policy OF MUIR
der and piracy that must have Americans for its
victims In the capitals of Germany and Austria
as must be inferred from the Presidents letter. it
is represented that the work of their agents has
been so successful that the American nation is
divided, that the Presidents own party is split
that we are half for protecting Americans from
Tcutonic murdercrs and half for delivering them
helpless into their hands.
Is it any wonder that President Wilson de-
mands a vote that he calls upon the representa-
tives OF the people in Senate and House to de-
clare that they not debating the question
whether or not to strike the American colors to
Germany and Austria? He finds himself in the
midst OF his contention for the nations rights and
the nations honor, dsarmed by handful of mem.
bers of his own party who, to their everlasting
shame would surrender everything that Amcri
cans hold dear, everything by the manhood
and valor OF their ancestors. And in his extremity
he asks Congress to restore to him the power
which the disloyal clamor OF a few has taken from
him
single criticism is to be brought against the
Presidents course. He asked support of a party
some OF the members OF which have proved them
selves disloyal; he should have addressed his ap-
peal to the whole Congress upon the broad ground
OF patriotism, for he will find Republicans, man for
man, no less eager to uphold him than Democrats
Had the President addressed an assemblage of the
two Houses in person the response would have
been immediate and unanimous. But his method
will serve. Where the men with the courage
to permit their votes to be recorded for Germany
and Austria against America. We shall see