The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-01-22
Senator HOks Smiths Position.

That the British government is
setting farther and farther away day
by day from the American idea Of its
trade rights with neutral powers,
there can be no sort of a reasonable
doubt. II was hoped by the Washing
ton government that continued pro
tests to London would bring Great
Britain TO a better understanding OF
the position of the United States. But
those hopes are dashed to pieces in
the recent announcement from Lon
don that Great Britain is 10 institute
Il new blockade Of Germany, so broad
and so unlimited-and so illegal-as
10 include all neutral ports which may
by any possible fashion be reached
IN the shipping Of commerce of what
ever kind! That the policy of Great
Britain has caused much hardship TO
American shipping cannot be doubted,
and that her sole idea is not for the
protection Of her own interest as
against Germanys getting supplies,
but is rather intended to interfere
permanently with the rapidlygrowing
commerce Of the United States, is
equally plain. The American govern
ment has appealed TO Great Britain;
she has presented the legal aspects
of thos case and she has done so in q
courteous, though firm, fashion. Now
then. what is Senator Smiths position
in the matter? lie does not seek war
with Great Britain, no one knows
that better than those who make the
foolish charge What he wants ana
what the country ought TO want is a
protest from congress so vigorous, so
emphatic that il win be heard, and
having been heard, will be needed AT
London Whatever else we may think
Of our British cousins, we know pref
ty well that they know when we are
joking and when we are not; they
know whom we are making a demand
.--ss44--44 - -A er~-we are merely calling atten-
lion through the customary diplomat
ic channels. That memorable mes
sage Of Grover Cleveland in the Nene
zuelan boundary line dispute was not
misunderstood and if the American
congress should speak out today in the
same fashion England would be quick
to hear and heed!
That's all there is in the attitude of
Senator Smith and if the great Geor
gia senator ever advocated truly
American policy; il he ever stood
squarely for American rights MS
against bluff and bravado, he is doing
that very thing now lie Is paving the
way in congress for such a protest, as
he thinks win bring results Another
idea is that Senator Smith
Is fighting for cotton alone. That is
erroneous and eggfegiously SO. Cot
ton is not the only article that has
been badly treated by these arbitrary
laws OF Great Britain, although Sen
ator Smith does make out clear case
in cotton Foodstutfs have been
seized time and time again. foodstufls
emanating in neutral American ports
and consigned to neutral foreign ports.
Since the west and the east are deep
~ interested in these products, the
senator's position broadens 10 include
the nation and not the south alone,
senator Smith is right. eminently and
unequivocally right aud the congress
Of the United States ought 10 rally to
his cry and speak out in such tone
as will give 0reat Britain some idea
of what we really want and intend to
have England is wrong and she
knows il and when we tell her so in
the proper spirit, She viii listen!
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