The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-17

uTkeu H. Dut lnrlf argument ana ur-
gency were ascribed 10 political mo.
tives, and The president described them
with a sheer a. nervous and excited
Wilson Hss shifted Ground.
but the warning voices would not be
stilled. The opinion that we ought no
longer 10 remain defenseless became
public opinion. Its expression grew
more general and inslstent, and finally
the president, not leading, but follow
Ing has shifted his ground, has revers-
ed his position and asks the country to
prepare against war. God grant that
he be not too late. But the Democrat
&c party has not shifted its ground. A
large part Of its members IN congress
are endeavoring now TO sidetrack the
movement for national preparedness,
to middle It by amendment and turn
II into channels which will produce the
least possible result IN the increase Of
national power Of defense What
sense OF effectiveness IN this effort can
we gather from the presence OF Jose
plus Daniels at the most critical post
/ Va dAA-thC hNAN VI AhN navy hNBaAN-
ment--when we see that where
preparation has been possible It has
not been made, when We see that con-
struction Of warships already author
lied has not been pressed and in some
cases after long delay has not even
been begun?
II an increase Of our cOuntry's power
to defend itself against aggression Is
authorized by the present congress It
must be largely through Republican
votes because all the traditions and
convictions OF that party are for ma
tional power and duty and honor.
As to the policy Of threatening words
without deeds:
When Germany gave notice Of her
purpose TO sink merchant vessels on
the high seas without safeguarding the
lives Of innocent passengers our gov
| eminent on the 10th Of February one
year ago informed Germany In unmis-
taxable terms that In attacking and
sinking vessels of the United States
and in destroying the lives Of American
citizens lawfully travelling upon mer-
chant vessels OF other countries she
would act at her peril. They pledged
the power and courage of America,
with her hundred million people and
her vast wealth, to the protection Of
her citizens, as during all her history
through the days Of her youth and
weakness she had protected them.
On the 18th Of March the passenger
steamer FalabR was torpedoed by q
German submarine and an American
citizen was killed, but nothing was
done. On the 18th 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
German submarine and two or more
Americans were killed, yet nothing was
done. On the It'll OF May the Lusita-
MIA was torpedoed and sunk by 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. II 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
perial German government to a strict
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 long
aud technical correspondence ensued,
haggllng 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 1t 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 II
has been futile. An admission Of liza
billty 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 We're 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
Il meant business and received an an
swer which satisfied him that II did
not, but was intended for effect at
home I'm America.
"Too Proud 10 Fight"
The other event was the strange and
unfortunate declaration Of the presi
dent In a public speech In Philadelphis
the fourth day after the sinking OF