The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1917-02-01
Comment of the Press.

/ The issue of Americas rights as a
neutral nation is thus put up squarely
to the president. What course should
ne pursue? The editorial comment of
the great journals of the country, ir-
respective of politics, voices senti-
ments that must appeal to every true
American and plainly point the path
Of duty:
New York World-There can be
only one answer on the part of the
United States to the new German sub
marine proclamation, and that ans
wer should be made today. The Ger
man ambassador must receive his
passports forthwith and diplomatic
relations must cease at once. There
should be no procrastination until the
hand of the United States government
is forced by premediated murder and
depreciation. We have made every
concession to Germany that self-re-
spect will permit, and all those con-
cessions have proved to be in vain.
No peace is worth the surrender of
nations sovereign rights. If Ger
many wants war with the United
States, let Germany have war with
the United States. Our hands are
clean.
New York Sun-The note closes for
the present the chapter of altruistic
endeavors and tentatives of parley
into which President Wilson has writ
ten his idealistic hopes. 1t creates
an entirely new situation, of the most
practical sort, so far as the United
States is concerned, and serious in
the extreme in its possibilities of un-
toward incidents which may put to
the test the steadfastness of Washing
ton in its attitude and assertion of
the principles which our state depart
ment has already enunciated.
New York Times-Will the govern
ment and the people of the United
States put up with this German order
to them the open pathways
of the sea? They will not, they can
not The order is issued without a |
shadow of justification in law or right
Providence Journal-The world knows
at last what Germany really means
when she speaks of the freedom of
the seas. This brutal and insolent |
pronouncement is only added proof
that the besotted and bloodbaked pol
icy of Prussia does not change. The
first attempt to make good this
threat of piracy, President Wilson will
be forced into the course of action
that he himself has outlined to Ger
many more than once-the immediate
severance of diplomatic relations. If
we are to retain a shred of our self
respect before the world, there is no
other avenue of protest open to US,
lnless it be the final arbitrament of
war.
Chicago Herald-Germany's reply
% President Wilson's suggestion of
world league to enforce peace is an
unconscious masterpiece of cynicism
md savage irony. 1t tears up, as
hough they were new scrap of pap
II, all the assurances that have been
given to respect the rights of neu-
rails in submarine warfare.
New York American-It is time
o walk warily, to decide coolly, to be
cry sure of each step and very con-
indent of each decision. And certain
Y we must assure the president that
whatever the issue may be, the ma
ion is Loyalty behind him.
Springfield Republican-This means
conditions for the United
tates and no American in his senses
5ould care for a moment to acqui-
see in Germany's action. 1t is
rave question whether President Will
con should not hand to the German
his passports Immediate
Louisville Courier Journal-Surely
le president has been awakened r
-om his dream of the millennium by :
ermany's latest note. 1t is direct :
to war to the United States [
hat challenge should be accepted il
ithin "a hours, and the war thus C
ltered on by America should not t.
I'd until the imperial despotism of e
ermany, which dares plunge the
orld into such a war, is completely n
Id eternally crushed. nj
Worchester (Mass) Telegraph-It a
a declaration of war against the el