Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-25
A DOUBLE CRISIS.

Tho Associated Press reports from
Washington state that President Wi.
son In convinced that. II diplomatic
relations are broken, war with Ger.
many and Austria is sure 10 follow
The cause OF the present crisis ia
the announced purpose Of the Teu-
tonic empires 10 sink armed enemy
merchant ships without warning and
the determination Of the adminIstra-
ton thnt no American rights shall be
sacrificed by ordering citizens OF this
country to keep or such merchant.
men.
German and Austrian submarines
can sink as many British. French and
Italian merchantmen as tho wish. nm 4
there will be no war with this coun.
Try, unless there should be American
citizens aboard the torpedoed vessels
In that case the LONG feared entry
OF Uncle Sam Into the war would be
inevitable.
William Jennings bryan, as secrc-
tary Of state, insisted that Americans
should be warned 20 keep off Of all
merchant ships armed or unurmed,
Of the allies. and ho Quit the cabinet
because the president refused TO yield
rights guaranteed under international
law. Now there appears to be a large
number Of democrats who favor
warning American citizens that IL. for
any reason. they should go aboard an
armed merchantmen OF the allies
they Will do II at their own risk.
There are two phases Of the sitna-
ton which command public attcn.
ton.
l. The extreme gravity of the rola-
tons between this nation and the
Tcutonis empires.
:, The detection OF a formidable
number Of democrats from tho lead
ership Of President Wilson.
As TO the first, none OF us wants
war II II can be honorably avoided.
II may be that the international law
giving merchantmen the right of de.
iensye armament In time of war ia
foolish, but II IN a rule Of the game,
subscribed TO by all civilized nations
which the authorities agree cannot he
waived during the progress OF war
unless agreement OF all the beiliger-
ents 10 first secured. II now appears
that ID was a mistake for the United
states TO approach the entente allies
with a proposal that they abandon
the long recognized practice OF arm
ihg merchantmen for defense. The
suggestion that this rule of interna-
tional law be waived was promptly
seized upon by Germany, Berlin an
nouncing that, beginning with March
j. German submarines would sink
without warning enemy merchantmen
that were 80 armed. II appeared that
Germany had been waiting for lust
such turn Of affairs and took quick
advantage of the opening
The phase Of It having to do With
domestic politics Is merely illustra-
tive OF the inherent lack Of solidarity
IN the democratic party. and recalls
the fight by the democratic congress
on Grover Cleveland because of his
stand for sound money az AGAINST the
heresy OF free coinage OF silver al
the ratio Of sixteen to one"
History has shown that GfDvo~I
Cleveland was right and that VII.
liam Jennings bryan. who led the
Opposition TO him in his party. was
wrong The party was split asundcr
After sixteen years Of democratic de-
feat Woodrow Wilson was elected
president and. Under the leadership
Of William Jennings bryan. the DEM
ocrais Of congress are again lining up
against Wilson. as they lined upI
against Cleveland In 1896. History
Will show Wilson is right. as IL has
demonstrated that cleveland was
right.
To follow the parallel a little
further. II is significant 70 note that
the democrats Of brains and practl.
ealiY the entire republican member
snip of the house and senate are
standing with the president now. jus.
"a nearly all Of the republicans IN
congress and the democrats Of brains
stood ~ Grover Cleveland on the
monsy aueftion.
The men who wish the president
nou 70 sacrifice the rights OF Amer.
lean citizens belong 10 the shallow.
highly emotional type. They never
Set nywhere--except in trouble
They are khofisighicd time servers