Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-11
Critics NIuZZIcd Inv Fear

IT HERE has been good deal Of discussion
of the Presidents foreign policy since
Congress reconvened after the Christmas re-
cess and this discussion has included good
deal of criticism. but we have failed to OBJ
serve Il demand from any responsible Senator
or Representative that this country go to war
That is still left to Colonel Roosevelt the
New York Tribune and other newspapers OF
that strongly Anglophie and hysterical de-
Scription
The rest of the country. comprising the
overwhelming ajority of the citizenship
continues TO believe that neutrality is the
true and wise foundation of this governments
policy, not to be departed from because of
sympathy, however great. with any OF the
belliSerents. but only because of gross viola
tons OF American rights. 1t is true that
there have been times when such a departure
appeared to be imminent. but on every occa-
sion of this character the chasm has been
hridged by the craftsmanship and enlightened
diplomacy OF Woodrow Wilson, His firmness
has held the offending nations to account and
compelled them to retreat, at least In part
from positions that outraged humanity and
stained their own honor.
Unfortunately for humanity. the conces-
sions the President has been in a position to
obtain have Injured principally to the protcc-
ton of American citizens and to the protec-
ton of others only incidentally. This very
PhdSc VI tHt SITUATION mas DcCn productive OF
much muddy confusion OF thought. That All
American citizen is aboard a British pas
senger steamship when ii is torpedoed BY a
German submarine and some hundreds OF
innocent and noncombntant lives destroyed
adds nothing TO the horror Of the crime, nor
does II enhance the gravity Of the violation
or international law thus committed The
presence of an American among the victims
however does give this government the right
to protest demand l.nt ion Nd ~, IN,
sist that the practice which has resulted in
the death OF one Of its nationals shall he aban-
doned. In making the protest it becomes
necessary for the United States to recte the
violation Of international law and of the laws
OF humanity for otherwise it's protests would
have no legal standing.
Many critics of the President. whose criti-
cisms have German leaning and bias have
commended that Mr.. Wilson was endeavOrtus
To force Germany to change it's mode OF war
rare. This is true. in q sense but not in
the broad sense. What the President has in
sisted ON has been the abandonment Of
methods that imperil the lives of American
citizens. and III this he bids fair to be sue
cessful.
Sensible Americans will pray for his COM
plete and final success. This country does
not want war with Germany, or with any
other nation. We may sympathiZe as indi-
VldualS with one another OF the belig-
erents. as. in fact. most OF us do sympnthjze
but our traditions and our responsibilities
unite to demand that we keep aloof so long
as with honor we can. from this catastrophn
tha1 shakes the world. That is the policy
the President has adopted and maintained
and that the people indorsc. His critics IN,
responsible positions do not dare attack II
British suifragettes oppose the compusion
measure. or course, they feel that any coer-
cion of the male sex by any one save them
selves is an invasion of their privileges