Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-23
"Why Declare War;"

and thin supporter VI Tic 1AeSiueA''
argues with force and fairness for
continuation of the policy of armed
neutrality" why declare war;" asks
the editor, and in the course of a long
editorial he says:
-. Germany is making war on
the United States, to be sure. precisely
as upon Holland, Denmark. Sweden ana
% Norway, all Of which have suffered more
heavily than this country. If it chooses
to convert actual war into formal hos
tilities by a declaration. we cannot pre-
vent It, but that responsibility should De
put plainly and firmly upon Wiillam L.
with everybody else for which the Ho-
henzollern will one day have to answer
to the German people.
What this country has undertaken TO
do is to safeguard its ships so far as
possible and to force way through the
''prohibited zone" for VIII N even Ger
many has not been audacious enough 10
b claim the sanction of a blockade. Some
ships must be lost, whether tney are an AZ
ed or not and whether or not war IS oe-
cIared The losses should be taken
bravely, and not as separate afronts CAL
ing for fresh action, but as incidents III
the general war which Germany nas
long been making on neutrais ana WHILE
is now brought home to us.
ITO declare war would in no way heip
matters II would not protect our SHIPS.
for Germany Is III 100 desperate iHto :
to be much affected by the addition OF
new enemy. 1t would make possible noth-
ing of consequence that cannot be Done
under policy of armed neutrality. Inc
armng of ships is really Of less import
ance than the mobilization of the snip
: building industry. If we were enrolled
with the Allies. what they would want
from us is precisely what America could
give as a neutral, and most or all ships
small fast quickly built freight carriers
"If isolated attacks of the kind fore
seen are not an adequate reason for a
change of policy. on the other hand the
revolution in Russia gives very gooh
reason for holding back. for putting
sauarely upon the Kaiser the responsible
: ity for adding to the number CT Ger
manys enemies. A revolution is not at
this time to be expected in Germany, but
If democracy keeps the upper mana III
Russia it cannot long be kept down in
central Europe. Millions of people who
: thought they hated Russia have discov-
cred in day that what they hated was
the Russian autOcracy: like trans1or-
nation in regard to Germany might come
as swiftly if Prussian military domlna-
, ton should go. With Europe IN nux
there is the more reason for holding 10
the policy of mere defence against sub
marines which get their orders from the
war lord Our quarrel is not with the
German people; it is with the autocracy
of the sort for which the rising in Russia
may he the death warrant.
: To us it appears doubtful il our
course. whatever it be, will in any
manner change the war policy of the
Prussian autocracy. 1t seems alto
gether probable that they prefer we
should enter the war against her, for
two far-reaching purposes, first, as we
have referred to before, that she may
h. ~
embittered. in the peace negotiations
If she loses, and second, that she may
say to the world Gf she is not crushed)
Not all the Anglo Saxon, Slavic and
Gallo forces with their minions from
Asia. Africa and the isles Of the sea,
could conquer the Teutonic military
keystone of civilization. Me and Colt
are supreme"
And against this proposition of daily
war on U.S. that has continued for many
months. the half-hearted policy of
armed neutrality" is offered to the
people Of America by the President
and his followers. And to this half
hearted resentment OF oft-repeated in
suit and injury, the President of this
great and loyal. red blooded people ex-
pccts full-hearted response. God pity
the towards and their exact analogy
the conservatives" who cannot dis
unguish between duty and dereliction.
Germany does not make war on an
armed neutrality" plane. She will not
understand, nor will sne respect any
ladyiike methods Of approaching a stat
US OF war. She will go on sinking our
ships, for, aside from that inhuman
method Of warfare being her last card
against the ertente allies, it is also
her means Of reducing the world trade
advantages Of the other nations over
her when the war ends. Every shin
OF any nationality that she sinks in her
campaign of frightfulness reduces bv
that amount the commercial lead over
her own trade when peace is declared.
Unrestricted submarine warfare"
will go on until the end Of tho vor ,ou
German submarines should be swent
from the sea. the last hope of the GEN.
tral allies would be gone,
We may say that Germany sbou,d
be made to pay for every shin she
sinks, when after war terms are made.
but with what can she pay IL the war
Is dragged along indefinitely?
Our problem is to remove the subma-
rine menace from the sea. Are our
courage. determination and genius
great enough to solve the problem that
has stumped Britain, France and the
rest? Not the best Of either of these
can be called out by the policies. meth.
DDS. utterances and bearing that have
characterized the present administra-
ton.
A decisive, answering, manfuI pol.
icy is not for its effect on our enemies.
BUT UPON THE PEOPLE OF THIS
coONTRYl Can President Wilson
and his advisers ever understand that
fact?
joint resolution, providing for a eve