West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-04-27
PresIdent Is Rlrht Saw. rnft

President Is Right Says Taft
CHICAGO. April 21.-Ex- President
Tart. addressing the Mystic Athletic
club tonight. accused both Germany
and Great Britain OF violating the
neutral rights OF the United States.
and declared that President Wilson
was right in his new note 20 Germany
He said.
I'm the present war for twenty
months we have pursued, as strictly
as we could. the course which the
rules OF international law lay down
for neutral powers, but this has not
kept US isolated from the struggle. In
the heart OF war, and I'm making re-
prisals for violations OF the laws Of
war by each other, belligerents have
ignored the case of the neutrals, and
neutrals are being ground between
the upper and the neither millstones
Both sides in the war have violated
our own rights as neutrals. England
has failed to keep within the law of
the blockade as she enforced il against
us in the Civil war. and has seized our
vessels and cargoes i'm violation of our
rights.
Germany has caused the death Of
$50 Of our citizens by her submarine
warfare, when by the rules of interna-
tional law they were entitled TO be
saved from danger before the com
mcrcial vessels of England and
France, upon which they were travel
ing. were sunk.
The difference between the English
and German cases is this, that in the
former the questions can be settled in
the future by compensation in dam
ages to be awarded, if need be by an
international court. because they con
Germ property and not human life. In
the German case such a remedy is ut
terly inadequate, because human life
is involved and the issue must be
settled now, or American lives Will
continue to be sacrificed i'm violation
of the rights of those dying and of
the nation owing them protection, and
our loss Will be irreyocable. There
fore, the President i'm his late note has
warned Germany that we must end
our diplomatic relations with her un-
less she ceases thus unlawfuuy to de
stroy American lives.
Gle is right and we all must stand
by him. 1 cannot follow the reason
ing of those who exalt Americanism
and patriotism and yet do not uphold
his hands in the present crisis. If
Germany refuses to heed the warming
and Count Won Bernstorff is given his
passports war need not ensue. as OF
course. But il Germany continues her
submarine warefare in such a way as
to drown nOn-combatant Americans,
as i'm the case of the Lusitania and the
Sussex, it is difficult to see how war
can be avoided
mo one prays more earnestly than
| that such a result may be avoided.
and that Germany, facing the conse-
quences of needlessly making another
national enemy, shall change her pol
icy and enable us to continue our
friendly relations with her.
I'm view of the critical nature of
the issue, however, is there anything
for clear headed, patriotic American
to do but to back up our President
who is our chosen constitutional
leader?
This is no time to point out mis-
takes of the past This is no ii me,
by attacks upon the General in com
mand. to give to the nation whom he
has warned the idea that our com
mander has not a united people be-
hind him. / am a Republican and
hope to change the political color of
the national administration on No
vember next. and am ready to give
my reasons for urging the change i'm
a proper time and place
Now and here are not the proper
time and place Now we must stand
shoulder to shoulder as Americans in
demanding, with all the emphasis pos
sible. respect for American rights and
i'm making clear our purpose with un-
daunted courage to carry our demand
TO its ultimate and logical conse-
quences."