The state herald., 1916-04-28

ernment its solemn assurances that at
least passenger ships would not be thus
dealt with; and yet 1t has again and
again permitted Its undersea command
ers to disregard those assurances with
entire impunity.
Refers to the LusItania Outrage.
Great liners like the Lusitania and
the Arabic, and mere ferry boats like
the Sussex, have been attacked with
out moments warning, sometimes
before they had even become aware
that they were In the presence of an
armed vessel of the enemy. and the
lives of -combatants, passengers
and crew have been sacrificed whole.
sale in a manner which the govern
ment of the United States cannot but
regard as wanton and without the
slightest color of Justification.
No limit of any kind has in fact
been set to the indiscriminate pursuit
and destruction 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
who have lost their lives on ships thus
attacked and destroyed has grown,
month by month, until the ominous
toll has mounted into the hundreds.
Sussex Case Rivals Lusitnnin.
One of the latest and most shocking
instances OF this method OF warfare
was that of the destruction of the
French cross-channel steamer Sussex.
1t must stand forth as the sinking of
the steamer Lusitania did. as so sing
ularly tragical and unjustifiable as to
constitute n truly terrible example OF
the inhumanity Of submarine warfare
aE the commanders of German vessels
have for the last twelve months been
conducting II.
II this Incident stood alone some ex-
PLANTATION, some disavowal by the Ger
man government. some evidence of
n ifrnt N Da1 al In ftt1
on the part of the commander of the
vessel that fired the torpedo might be
sought or entertained: but, unhapplly.
It does not stand alone.
Recent events make the conclusion
Inevitable that II is only ono Instance,
even though II be one of the most ex-
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 It's immedi-
ate object.
United States Has Hoped In Vain.
The government of the United States
has been very patient. At every stage
edy after tragedy in which its own
citizens were involved. II has sought
tc be restrained from any extreme
course OF action or of protest by a
ihuugntlul COnslueTutiOn OF the extra
ordinary circumstances of this unpre-
cedented war, and actuated In all that
1. said or did by the sentiments of
genuine friendship which tho people Of
the United States always have enter
tained and continue to entertain
toward the German nation.
II has, Of course, accepted the sue
cessive explanations and assurances of
the imperial German government ns
given In entire sincerity and good
faith, and has hoped. even against
hope. that II would prove to bo pos
sible for the German government so
to order and control the acts OF It's
naval commanders as to square Its
policy with the principles of humanity
as embodied In the law OF nations.
II has been willing to walt until
the Significance OF the facts became
absolutely unmistakable and suscept-
point has now unhnppily been reached.
The facts are susceptible of but one
Interpretation
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-Bost Raids End.
1t has. therefore. become painfully
evident that the position which this
government took Mt the very outset Is
submarines for the destruction OF any
ebemy's commerce Is Of necessity.
because of the very character OF the
vessels employed, and tho very meth
ODDS of attack which their employment
Of course, Involves. incompatible with
the principles of humanity. the long
established and incontrovortible rights
OF neutrals. and the sacred immunities
OF non-combatants.
have deemed i my duty. there
fore, TO say to the imperial Ger
man government that II Il Is still
its purpose. TO prosecute relentless
and indiserlminato warfare against
Of submarines, notwi,hstsndins the
In. possibility OF conducting that war
fare In accordance with what the gov
ernment OF the United States must
consider tho sacred and indisputabls
vsrsaliy recognized dictates OF human
ity. the government OF the United
States 10 Mt last forced to the eonelu-
sion that there Is but ono course that
perial German government should now
Immediately declare and effect an
abandonment Of its present msthods OF
warfare against passenger and freight
carrying vessels, this government can
have no choiee but to sever diplomat
f. relations with the government OF the
German empire altogether.
This decision ] have arrived at with
tho koonest regret. tho possibility OF
the action contemplated, am sure.
all thoughtful Americans will look
forward to with unaffected reluctance;
but we cannot forget that we arc In
some sort and by tho force OF oiroum
stances tho responsible spokesman OF
the rights OF humanity. and that We
cannot remain silent while those
rights seem In process Of being swept
utterly away In the msistrom OF this
terrible war,
We owe II TO q due regard for our
own rights an a nation. TO our sense
of duty as a representative OF th.
rights OF neutrals the world over. and
To q just conception OF the rights OF
mankind, 90 take this stand now, with
tho utmost Hoiemnity and firmn1ss
I have taken II, and taken II In tho
confidence that II will meet with your
approval and support. All obedient
mon must unite In hoping that the i'm.
psriAl German government. which has
Ia their circumstances stood az the
champion OF all that we are now con
tending for In tho interest Of human.
ity, may recognise the Justice Of our
demand. and meet them In the spirit