Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-20
The Die Is Cast

The Die Is Cast
DRESIDENT WILSON'S demand oil Ger
many for the abandonment of submarine
attacks on merchant shipping is an uti-
matum. Unless Germany consents to cease
these attacks. Incompatible as the Presi-
dent says, with the principles of humanity
the ong-estabished and incontrovertible
rights of neutrals and The sacred immunities
of noncombatans." diplomatic relations will
be severed. II requires no gift of prescience
TO determine that after such rupture the
repetition OF German atrocities would plunge
This country into war.
Ihere was absolute propricty III the course
Mr.. Wilson followed when he carried TO
Congress the indisputable facts which but
tress his indictment Of Germany. The Con-
stitution confers on Congress, and on Con-
Sress alone, the right to declare war
Although il is true that the executive con-
trolling the foreign relations OF the govern
ment. may so shape and guide them that
war becomes inevitable, Congress must exer-
else the final privilege and bear the final
responsibility. 1t was proper. therefore--it
was even demanded-that when President
Wilson decided on measure which in the
should place his case before the constitutional
arbiter between war and peace
More than this, it was demanded that he
should submit his case to the people-his
masters and the masters OF Congressman
TO the neutral world Now when the people
OF the United States arc about to sever the
bonds Of friendship that have knit them TO
IA great and powerful European nation, il
is as true as it was lao years ago that a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes
which mpe them To the separation"
In state paper, remarkable for the con
scrvatism OF lis recital OF fact the cogency
OF it's reasoning and the unesca pa BILE logic of
its conclusion. President Wilson has declared
these causes. Germany stands arraigned be-
fore the world. as the worlds enemy. l,
has made the world Here in our
own country. with which tie empire pro-
fcssed!y al peace. its accredited diplomats
have sought 10 destroy our industries and
murder our citizens On the high seas It's
submarines have left bloody trail! Mount
ing from infamy TO infamy, tho commanders
OF tho t-boats have pursued their coursc--to
employ the Presidents measured phrase---''in
a wa that has grown more and more ruth
less. more and more indiscrininatc the
months have gone by, less and less obscrvant
Of restraints Of any kind; and have delivered
their attacks without compunction against
vessels of every nationality and bound upon
every sort OF Grand
There can bo-thcrc shall bc.-no more Of
this if Germany would remain at peace with
tho United States. If tho German people
seriously believe as their #pokcsmcn would
have Us believe, that their situation justifcs
q policy of 'frightfulnoss" toward neutras
as well as toward enemies. they cannot be
surprised that ncutrals dccliue longer TO
submit. However important the prcscrva-
ton of German kulur may he to Germany
or even 10 the world. it is of far less conse-
Nucncc Ia US than the preservation of Amcri-
can rights and American lives
II will not he preserved. at any rate At
the cost Of American honor Tho choice now
must say whether they will abandon IA course
ahhorrcnt AT once To law and humanity for
goifui OF mercy and needless Of innocen, and
noncomhatant suffering and death. or incur
soon or late the unhnchug cnmit,. of this
people. The die is cast,
In this little matter of the moving picture
censorship. there seems danger that TOO many
cooks viii produce the conventional result
Nearer 10 Constantinople
- i'of iilN'i ny the sad experience OF the