Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-04-26
GERMANY MUST ABANDON
RUTHLESS SEA WARFARE
OR TAKE CONSEQUENCES
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cans vino have lost their lives on
ships thus attacked and destroyed
mas grown month by month until the
ominous toll has mounted into the
hundreds.
Case of the Sussex,
"0nc Of the latest and most shock
IN" Instances OF this method OF war
fare was that Of the destruction Of
the French croSS-channel steamer
Sussex. 1T must stand forth, as the
sinking OF the steamer Lusitania did,
rs so SinSularly tragical and unjusti-
liable as to constitute a truly terrible
example Of the inhumanity of sub
marine warfare as the commanders of
German vessels have for the past
twelve months been conducting it. II
GrlS instance stood alone, some eX-
pianation, some 'diSavowal by the
German government, some evidence
or criminal mistake or wilful disobe-
dlence on the part OF the commander
or the vessel that fired the torpedo,
might be sought or entertained but
unhappily 1t does not stand alone.
Recent events make the conclusion
inevitable THAT 1T is only one in-
stance, even though 1T be one OF the
most extreme and distressing in
stances, Of the spirit and method of
warfare which the Imperial Gernau
govcrnmen has mistakenly adopted.
and which from the first exposed
that government to the reproach Of
thrusting all neutral rights aside in
pursuit OF its immediate objects.
"Thc government Of the United
States has been very patient. at
every stage OF this distressing eXDe-
rience Of tragedy after tragedy, in
which its own citizens were involved,
it has sought to be restrained from
any extreme course Of action or os
protest by thoughtful consideration
OF the extraordinary circumstance OF
this unprecedented war, and actuated
in all that it said or did by the senti-
mcnts of genuine friendship which
the people OF the United States have
always entertained and continue to
entertain toward the German nation.
1t has, Of course, accepted the sue
resslve explanations and assurances
OF the imperial German government
as given in entire sincerity and good
faith, and has hoped, even against
hope. that it would prove to be pos
sible for the German government so
to order and control the acts OF it's
naval commanders us to square its
policy with the principles of human
ity as embodied in the law OF ma
'tions. 1t has been willing to wait
until the significance Of the facts he
came absolutely unmistakable and
susceptible Of but one interpreta-
tion
Crisis Reached.
'"That point has now unhappily
been reached. The facts are susrep-
tible OF but one Interpretation. The
imperial German government has
been unable to put any limits or re-
straints upon its warfare against
either freight or passenger ships. 1t
has, therefore, become painfully evi-
dent that the position which this
government took at the very outset is
inevitable, namely, that the use of
submarines for the destruction Of an
enemy'S commerce is of necessity,
because the very character of the YES
sells employed and the very methods
OF attack which their employment, OF
course, involves, incompa tible with
the principles OF humanity, the long
established and incontrovertible
rights of ncutrals and the sacred im-
munitieS Of nOn-cOmbatants.
Last Word to Germany.
II have deemed it my duty, there
fore. to say to the imperial German
government that ii it is still it's pur-
pose to prosecute relentless and in
discriminate warfare against vessels
OF comemrce by the use OF subma-
rines, notwithstanding the new dem
onStratcd impOsSibility OF conducting
that warfare in accordance with what
the government OF the United States
must consider the sacred and in;lis-
putahle rules OF international law
and the universally recognized die
tatcS Of humanity. the government Of
the United States is at last forced to
the conclusion that there is but one
course 1t can pursue, and Chat unless
the imperial German government
should now Immediately declare and
effect an abandonment Of its present
methods Of warfare against passcn-
ger and freight carrying vessels this
government can have no cOice but to
sever diplO matte relations with the
government Of the German Empire
altogether.
'This decision | have arrived at
with the kecneSt regret: the posi-
bility OF action contemplated am
sure all thoughtful Americans will
look forward to with unaffected re-
lnctance. But we cannot forget that
we are in some sort and by the
force OF circumstances, the RESPONSE
bic spokesman OF the rights OF hu-
manity, and that we cannot remain
silent while those rights seem in pro-
cess OF being swept utterly away in
the maelStrOm Of this terrible war.
We owe it to a due regard for our
own rights as Il nation, to our sense
OF dllty as representative Of tho
III. III L.. i 4