The Washington herald., 1916-02-24
Congress Headed Toward Danger.

That members of President Wilson's own party
in Congress striving to wrest from him in a
crisis direction and control of the countrys inter-
national relations is the amazing news sent to the
people from Washington last plight They are
told that their representatives in Congress are
making a determined effort to sweep away what
ever results the President and his Cabinet have
achieved in year of endeavoF-to preserve the
freedom of the seas, and to surrender the last
shred of American rights by warning Americans
not to take passage merchant ships, lawfully
armed for defense, which Germany threatens to
sink on sight and without warning; that their rep
resentatives in Congress are determined to repudi
ate the rights of Americans, bound on peaceful
errands, to sail the seas safe from murderous at
tack, and to sacrifice all of those things for which
the President commended in the communications on
the destruction of the Lusitania. If the situation
is accurately described the Presidents party has
grown pitiably weak as he has grown strong in
his foreign policy.
Though it is difficult to imagine graver pros
peet Of national humiliation, even of national dis
aster' it is not yet time to believe that it will be
brought about. President Wilson, to whose Amer
icanism, growing sturdier, the country has re-
sponded. will neither yield nor compromise his
principles for the sake of office and there is scarce
ly room for doubt that he will find Republican
support if it is necessary to prevent the striking
OF the American flag to Germany and Austria.
For that is all warning by Congress to Amer
leans to keep off legally armed merchantmen
would amount to- 1t would save no lives. Every
American contemplating an ocean voyage is as
we'll able to estimate the danger as those Demo-
Gratis who would urge them to regulate their 60
ing and coming by the Teutonic will. They will
not refrain from taking voyage because their
try casts them off and refuses to demand money
if they murdered. Action by Congress in op-
position to the President would be mere notice to
Germany and Austria that while we are at peace
we not united and must even quarrel over the
adjustment of our own affairs they are in
volved in the of other nations.
1t is difficult to understand the motive which
actuates those members Of Congress who would
wipe out international law and bow their accept
ance of the Teutonic proclamation of piracy. 1t
may be interpreted cowardice, as the effect OF
the deadly influence of the advocates of peace at
any price, a pandering to the German vote
Among the apostles OF surrender men who
have praised the President for keeping the country
out Of the war, and these betrsy themselves hav
ing praised him for the concessions he has made
Now that he realizes that the national honor will
permit no more concessions, that he forbids
further encroachment upon freedom and our
rights they would take the power from his hands
and themselves yield all
Those who would sacrifice everything in their
fear that the President may carry the country in
to with Germany have far greater reason to
tremble because of their own course. They arc
doing much to Teutonic contempt and en-
courage its aggression If the President was
winning yesterday in his controversy his progress
will be halted today by the servility to Germany
and Austria of the members of his own party
For those rare occasions on which Berlin has
shown half-willingness 10 listen to the voice OF
simple justice and reason have been in response
to exhibitions of frmness by the White House and
State Department.
The plans of those unpatrotc members must
not succeed Success would mean notice to Ger
many that she may do her whole will with us, that
in the whole Eastern Hemisphere we would be
without friends and without respect