Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-05-18

the spirit Of the American democracy
In It's attitude toward the terrible
events which accompanied the early
stages u the war.
First, Ms to power:
When the war In Europe began. free.
%peareable little Switzerland Instantly
mobilixed upon her frontier a great
army Of trained citizen soldiers, Stur'
dy little Holland did the same. aud
both have kept their territory and their
Independence invtolate.
Great. lEaceable America was farther
removed from the conflict, but her
trade and her citizens travelled on ev-
cry sea. Ordinary knowledge 1T Eu-
ropean affairs made 1t plain that the
war was begun not by accident, but
with purpose which would not soon be
relinluished. Ordinary knowledge Of
military events made II plain from the
moment when the tide nf German tnva.
sion turned from the battle Of the
Marine that tha conflict WAS certain to
be long and desperate. Ordinary knowl,
edge OF history-of our own history
during the Napoleonic wars-made It
plain that IN that conflict neutral rights
would be worthless unless powerfully
maintained.
The Democratic government at Wash
ington did not See II. Others saw II.
and their opinions found voice. MIR.
Gardner urged II. Mr.. Lodge urged 1t.
MIR. Stimson urged II. Mr.. Roosevelt
urged 1t, hut their argument aud ur-
gency were ascribed to political mo,
tiVes. and the president described them
with Il sneer as nervous and excited.
Wilson Has Shifted Ground.
But the warning voices would not be
stilled, The opinion that We ought no
longer to remain defenseless became
public opinion. Its expression grew
more general aud insistent. and finally
ing. has shifted his ground. has revers-
ed his position aud asks the country to
prepare against war. Grod grant that
he lie not o late. But the Democrat
ic party has not shifted Its ground. A
large part of Its members in congress
are ~endeavoring now t" sidetrack the
movement for national preparedness,
10 muddle 1t by amendment and turn
1t into channels which will produce the
least possible result In the increase Ut
national power Of defense. What
sense Of effectiveness III this effort can
we gather from the presence OF Jose.
plus Daniels at the most critical post
Of all-the head OF the navy depart
m~ent-when We see that where
preparation has been possible 1t has
not been made. when We see that con,
struction OF warships already author.
ICED 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 1t
must he largely through Republican
votes, because all the traditions and
convictions nf that party are for ma
tional power and duty and honor.
As to TIN, policy OF threatening words
without deeds:
WheI. Germany gave notice Of her
purpose t., sink merchant vessels Oh
the hisil q a without safeguarding the
lives " innocent passengers our gov
eminent on the 10th Of February one
year ngo informed Germany In nnmts.
taxable terms that I'm attacking and
sinking vessels OF the United States
and In destroying the lives Of American
citizens lawfully travelling upon nier-
chant vessels II other countries she
would act ut her peril. They pledged
the power and IRA OF America,
with her hundred million people ana
her vast wealth, to the protection OF
her citizens. ns during ali her history
through the days Of her youth and
weakness she had projected them.
o. the 18th of March the passenger
steamer Falaba was tOrIedoed by 8
German submarine and ali American
citizen was killed, but nothing was
done. On the 2stL Of April the Amer
lean vessel Gushing was attacked INT
crippled by II Gerniun %aeroplane. Oh
the 1st Of May the American vesse
Gulhight was t%orpedoed and sunk by {
German submarine and two or NOR.
Americans were killed, yet nothing was
. done. On the 7th Of May the Lusita
MIA WAS torpedue1 and sunk by a Ger
man submarine aud more than in
.l.-. ..t flkk .th., n,r,.ptl
batants were drowned. The very thug
which our government had warned
Germany she must not do, German!
did of set purpose and III the most con
temptnous and shocking way. Then
when all America was stirred to tn
depths, our government addressed an
other note to Germany. 1t repeated
its assertion Of American rights ant
rene wed its bold declaration Of pur
pose. 1t declared again that the Amer
lean government must hold the I'm
, perial German government to a STRIFE
accountability for any infringement Q
, those rights, Intentional or incidental.
and 1t declared that It would not ''Omi
any word or any act necessary to tn,
performance Of It's sacred duty OF main
. . tanning the rights Of the United State
and Its citizens and OF safeguarding
> their free exercise and enjoyment"
Still nothing was done and a lonl
aud technical correspondence ensued
haegling e petty questions Of Dc
, tail. every American note growing les
and less strong and peremptory unit
the Arabic was torpedoed and sum
and more American lives were destroy
ed. and still nothing wal done, AM
, the correspondence continued until tn
allied defense against German subma