The Dolores star., 1916-04-28

ernment its solemn assurances that n,
ieast passenger ships would not be thus
again permitted its undersea Commando
ers to disregard those assurances with
entire impunity.
Refers to the Lasitanfa OUTRAGE.
Great liners like the Lusitania and
the Arabic, and mere ferry boats like
one sussex. have been attacked with
out moments warning, sometimes
oeIore they had even become aware
that they were in the presence of an
armed vessel of the enemy. and tho
hVes OF non combatants, passengers
ana crew have been sacrificed whole.
sale In a manner which the govern
ment Of the United States cannot but
slightest color of justification.
No limit of any kind has In fact
been set to the indiscriminate pursuit
al ana obstruction of merchantmen of all
Kinds and nationalities within the wa
ters constantly extending in area,
where these operations have been car
ried on; and the roll of Americans
attacked and destroyed has grown.
month by month. until the ominous
Toll has mounted into the hundreds
Sussex Case Rivals Lusitania.
one OF the latest and most shocking
instances of this method of warfare
vas that Of the destruction of the
French cross channel steamer Sussex
IL must stand forth as the sinking OF
the steamer Lusitania did. as so sing
ularly tragical and unjustifiable as to
constitute truly terrible example Of
the tnhumanity of submarine warfare
az the commanders OF German vessels
have for the last twelve months been
conducting 1t.
II this incident stood alone some ex-
PLANTATION. some disavowal by the Ger
man government, some evidence OF
criminal mistake or wilful disobediencs
on the part OF the commander of the
vessel that fired the torpedo might be
sought or entertained: but. unhappily.
II does not stand alone.
Recent events make the conclusion
newt able that 1t is only one Instance,
even though II be one of the most er-
treme and distressing INSTANCES. of the
spirit and method Of warfare which
mistakenly adopted. and which from
the first exposed that government to
the reproach Of thrusting all neutral
rights aside in pursuit of its immedi-
ate object.
United States Has Hoped 1. Vain.
has been very patient. At every stage
of this distressing experience OF trag-
edy after tragedy in which Its own
citizens Sa sov were involved it has sought
course Of action or of protest by .
thoughtful consideration of the extra
ordinary circumstances of this unpre-
cedented 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
toward the German nation.
1t has. Of course. accepted the sue
cessive explanations and assurances Of
the imperial German government as
faith, and has hoped. even against
hope. that 1t would prove to be pos
sible for the German government SO
ndaFq
policy with the principles of humanity
as embodied In the law of nations.
1t has been willing to wait until
absolutely unmistakable and suscept-
IDLE of but one Interpretation. That
point has now unhappily been reached.
The facts are susceptible of but one
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-Boat Raids End.
1t has, therefore, become painfully
evident that the position which this
government took at the very outset 10
inevitable: namely. that the use of
enemy's commerce is Of necessity.
because of the very character Of the
vessels employed. and the very moth
DDS of attack which their employment
Of course, involves, incompatible with
the principles of humanity, the long
established and incontrovertible rights
of neutrals. and the sacred immunities
fore, to say to the imperial Ger
man government that II it is still
Its purpose to prosecute reisntIes,
vessels Of commerce By the use
in,possihility of conducting that war
eminent OF the United States must
consider the sacred and indisputabls
rules of international law and the uni
vsrsally recognized dictates of human
States Is at last forced to the conclu-
sion that there Is but one course that
It can pursue. and that unless the i'm
im iaa declare and effeet an
abandonment Of its present methods Of
warfare against passenger and freight.
carrying vessels. this government can
ic relations with the government of the
German empire altogether.
This decision have arrived at with
the SURE
all thoughtful Americans will look
forward to with unaffected reluctance:
but we cannot forget that We are In
stances the responsible spokesman Of
e ehs G's''s se% 1a no .iIens While those
rights seem In process o. being swspt
terrible war.
own rights as q nation, to our sense
of duty as a representative of the
rights of neutrals the world over. and
to a just conception of the rights of
mankind. to take this stand now. with
the utmost solemnity and firmness.
I have taken 1t, and taken 1t In the
that 1t will meet with your
men must unite in hoping that the i'm
perial German government. which has
In their circumstances stood as the
champion of all that we are now con.
for in the interest Of human
ity, may recognize the Justice of our
demands and meet them in the spirit
in which they are made.