The Lovington leader., 1916-04-28


gain permitted Its undsrs-a command
Tt to disregard those assurances with
ntire impunity.
Refers 70 the Lssatssis Osssase.
Great iiners like the Lusitania and
he Sussex. have been attacked with.
tut a moments warning, sometimes
fore they had even become aware
hat they were In the presence Of an
irmed vessel OF the enemy. and the
ives Of non-combatanis, passengers
md crew have been sacrificed whole.
'ale In manner which the govern
'egard AZ wanton and without the
slightest color OF justification.
No limit Of any kind has In fact
been set to the indiscriIninate pursuit
md destruction OF merchantmen OF all
binds and nationalities within the wa
,ers. constantly extending In area.
where these operations have been car
who have lost their lives on ships thus
attacked and destroyed has grown.
month by month, until the ominous
toll has mounted into the hundreds.
sussex Case Rivals Iusitasia.
One OF the latest and most shocking
Instances Of this method Of warfare
was that OF the destruction of the
French cross-channel steamer Sussex.
II must stand forth as the sinking Of
the steamer Lusitania did. as so sing
ularly tragicai and unjustifiable as to
constitute a truly terrible example OF
the inhumanity OF submarine warfare
AZ the commanders of German vessels
have for the last twelve months been
II.
II this Incident stood alone some ex-
planation. some disavowal by the Ger
man government. some evidence OF
criminal mistake or wilful isobedience
on the part of the commander OF the
vessel that fired the torpedo might be
sought or entertained; but unhappily,
Il does not stand alone
Recent events make the conclusion
that II IL only one instance,
even though II be one OF the most ex-
tfeme and distressing Instances. OF the
spirit and method OF warfare which
the imperial German government has
mistakenly adopted. and which from
the first exposed that government to
the reproach Of thrustins all neutral
rights aside in pursuit OF its immedi.
ate object.
Usited states Has Hoped II Vain.
The government Of the United states
has been very patient. Al every stage
OF this distressing experience Of trag-
citizens were involved, It has sought
tc be restrained from any extreme
course OF action or Of protest by a
thoughtful consider tt0n 81 the sx,ra-
ordinary circumstances OF this unpre-
cedentcd war. and actuated In all that
L. said or did by the sentiments of
genuine friendship which the people of
the United States always have enter
tained and continue to entertain
toward the German nation,
1t has OF course, accepted the sue
cessive explanations and assurances Of
the imperial German government az
given In entire sincerity and good
faith, and has hoped. even against
hope. that II would prove to lie pos
sible for the German government so
to order and control the acts OF its
naval commanders as to square its
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 unmistakablc and suscept
ible Of but one Interpretation. That
point has now unhappily been reached.
The facts are susceptible of but one
Interpretation.
The imperial German government
has not been able to put any limits
or restraints upon Its warfare against
either freight or passenger ships.
Demands U-loat Raids End.
1t has, therefore. become painfully
evident that the position which this
government took at the very outset is
inevitable: namely, that the use OF
submarines for the destruction of any
ehemy's commerce is OF necessity
because of the very character of the
V, ssels employed. and the very meth
DDS of attack which their employment
of course, involves. incompatible with
the principles OF humanity. the long
| established and iucontrovertible rights
of neutrals. and the sacred immunities
OF non -combatants.
fore, to say to the imperial Ger
man government that IL 1t is still
It's purpose to prosecute relentless
and indiscriminate warfare against
vessels of commerce by the use
Of submarines, Notwithstanding the
| in,possibility of conducting that war
| fare In accordance with what the gov
ernment of the United States mus
| consider the sacred and indisputabl,
rules of International law and the uni
versally recognized dictates of human
| ity, the government OF the United
States Is at last forced to the conclu
sion that there Is but one course thai
|. can pursue, and that unless the i'm
terial German government should nov
| lmneulutelN ucCIdtt anu eIIeCt ~
abandonment of its present methods o.
warfare against passenger and freight
carrying vessels, this government cal
have no choice but to sever diplomat
1, relations with the government Of tn,
German empire altogether.
| This decision l have arrived at Will
the keenest regret: the possibility o
the action contemplated, l am sure
all thoughtful Americans will lOol
forward to with unaffected reluctance
but we cannot forget that We are II
some sort and by the force Of circum
stances the responsible spokesman o
the rights of humanity. and that ",
cannot remain silent while thos
rights seem in process Of being swep
utterly away In the melstrom OF thi
terrible war.
We owe It to q due regard for ou
own rights as a nation. to our sens
OF duty az n representative Of tn
rights OF neutrals the world over, an,
to a lust conception OF the rights o
mankind. to take this stand now, will
the utmost sOlemnity and firmness.
l have taken II, and taken II In tn
confidence that It win meet with you
approval and support. All obedien
men must unite In hoping that the i'm
periai German government which ha
Ia their circumstances stood as tn
champion Of all that We are now con
tending for In the interest Of human
ity. may recognize the Justice Of ou
demands and meet them In the spirit
sin which they are made.