The Penn's Grove record., 1917-02-09
A GREAT NATIONAL CRISIS
Keep Down The War Spirit
Make Powder. Grow
More Crops

For two years the British navy ha
practically blockaded the North Sea ant
the ports to Germany. Germany is feel
ing the great need for products from
other countries and the people are sui
fering many ~privatioDs by the wal
brought on by their Imperial Majesty
Kaiser William ii.
There has been no public hysteria over
the prohibition of American ships going
to Germany with citizens carrying con
trabands of war. But on Thursday Oh
last week, February 1, the German Gov
nmen declared that the British Isles
rance and all ports to the powers fight
ing Germany would be under blockade af-
ter the 9TH, except a sea lane to Fal-
mouth, England. One U. S. ship painted
white and red carrying no contrabands
could pass. Uncle Sam was asked ia
warn American ships from the barred
zone and warn u. S. citizens from TAX
ing passage on ship or on confding goods
to ships in the zone.
In other words there is a riot on hand
in the sea roads and Uncle Sam is re-
quested to read the riot act to warn citi-
zeHs that they may get hurt by getting
near the fight.
Last Saturday President Wilson APP
peared before Congress and recited the
issue that unless the Imperial Gov
eminent should immediately abandon
submarine warfare ON passenger and
freight vessels of the United States he
would sever diplomatic relations, which
he did.
The act has made great excitement
n thousands are seeing German sub
marines all over the ocean and in their
dreams. Thousands are getting ready in
spirit for fight. What for? In order
that American citizens may ride on Brit
ish or American Ships carrying contra
bands of war to the countries fighting
Germany.
While we believe that Kaiser William
ii should have his head cut off like our
Puritan forefathers created Charles l,
and the French decapftated Louis XVI,
as the only way to cure the mania of
the divine right of kings, yet we believe
the British and French ships and men
able to get needed supplies without
Americans going to the expense and risk
to protect American blockade runners
who are after the big profits in doing so.
Turn back the pages of history 102 to
115 years ago and you wiil learn that
both England and France were then at
war. Each forbid American ships carry
ing goods to the other country. Thomas
Jefferson, then President, also President
James Madison, had Congress to pass
embargo bills forbidding American ships
carrying goods to either country. The
profits were so big that the law and
blockades were not observed. The peo-
pie of New England were so incensed
because of loss of trade that the Hart
ford Convention was called and threats
of seeding from the Union were made.
The Governor of VERMONT recalled the
militia from Canada during the war of
1872. That was the death of the Fed
eral party.
When there is a riot in any city it is
the duty of the Mayor to read the riot
act to warn all citizens off the streets.
If they. go where the riot is, it is then
at their own risk of person and property.
1t does greatly offend the dignity of some
big men who wish to assert their rights to
walk down a street with a revolver in hand
when a riot is on, but discretion is the
greatest part of valor. Safety frs" to
persons and property is the motto of those
who have powder to sell and millions to
lose.
if American citizens wish to &c
abroad and take their goods at a big
profit let them go at their own risk
while the riot is on. When the powder
leaves Deep Water Point it belongs to
the allied countries who buy it. 1t is
transported at their own risk while war
is N. If American citizens want to go
and take their goods in American ships
at a big profit let them go at their own
risk. There is no need of working up a
war scare to protect OF defend block
AIDE runners who want to carry contra
bands of war at an immense profit.
Let US build and sell ships to England
France and Italy n products to load
them and give all the encouragement
moral and material, to down the divine
right of kings ideas in Germany, but
when it comes to declaring war and the
expense of a war to fight old-world bat
ties, W. believe u f~orefathers did their
share and we fight to be excused.
Let us speed up in making powder and
growing more and bigger crops, but let
the other fellow do the fighting as our
Puritan fo%refathers did from 1908 to
1858.
Too Fresh, Got Sailed