The Washington herald., 1917-03-13
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
II War, II IL Germany,s war.
Now York MoridN

tNeW Iofk WofldO
The discussion as to what viii happen
after the arming Of the ships resembles
the debates IN Congress when the hill
empowering the President to act was un-
der consideration. That measure aid
more than confirm the welI-established
authority of the President to protect the
lives and property OF Americans in their
lawful occupations. It provided also that
he should "employ such other instrument
talities and methods as may in his iudR-
ment and discretion seem necessary and
adequate"
This was not q formal declaration of
war, but It amounted to that, and was 10
regarded by the members Of both Houses.
with few exceptions, although most Of
them hesitated to speak Of war. II was
the manly response OF q brave nation
sure of its rights and confident Of its
power to meet the menace of the German
empire. As is characteristic Of the great
republic. 1t contemplated defensive and
not offensive warfare, and It exhibited no
trace of aggression.
Clearly enough. what will happen as a
result Of this action will depend upon
Germany. In the summer of 1914 that
country accepted the mobilization Of q
portion OF the Russian army as a suffi-
cient excuse for plunging the world into
the greatest of all conflicts. In 1917 Il
mobilizes its own submarines in the paths
OF lawful commerce and announces that
II will sink without. notice any and all
ships that appear.
What will happen when the ships 60
forth will be like that which happens
when brave and honest citizens arm them
selves against highwaymen or footpads
known to be lurking in every shadow
Everything will depend upon the deter
mination OF the aggressor-and the for
tunes Of war. 1t will be war on both
sides IL Germany. long permitted to con-
DUCT kind OF warfare on one side, so
elects. Henceforth there is for Germany
only one way TO remain at peace with the
United States. II must stop making war
upon the United States. We are not the
challengers. We only defy the challenger
and go about our business
Where the Blame Lies.
New York SUM-
The Berlin press. with every appear
ance of solemnity. now assures the init
ed States that:
THE arming of merchant ships means
war. regardless Of whether the casus
belli arises in the course of few days
or a few weeks.
I'VE desire to establish with all due
emphasis the fact that the United States
in every respect becomes the attacking
party the moment she sends her guns
to sea against the German T-boats"
That is. the murder by German sub
marines Of unarmed American citizens
pursuing their lawful business on the
high seas is an incident of no conse-
Quence. matter in which our govern
ment has no legitimate interest, and to
prevent which should not take any
action. Such murder. il appears. is the
unQuestionable right and privilege of the
I
II, as an Indispensable ceremony in the
spread of Kultur over a globe hopelessly
benighted except where the rule OF the
Kaiser and the authority of the Grand
Turk are enforced
Yet 1t will be difficult for Germany,
with the record of the last thirty-one
and a half months open to the world,
to prove that in defending its citizens
the United States is the aggressor in
the quarrel Berlin has provoked.
One Hundred Per Cent American.
New York Herald
Prussianism attains to the nth degree
Of stupidity when il dreams Of stirring
up revolution among the negroes of this
country. Prussian agents who. as told
in Sundays Herald. have been endeaV-
oring to implant a revolutionary spirit
in residents of the San Juan Hill" sec
ton of this city will realize in good
time that they are at the wrong end
Of the boomerang
Not always has the negro found jas
ticc under the Stars and Stripes. but
1t is his fag-he knows no other. From
the day Of Lexington to the day of
CarrizaI he has fought for it and fought
hravely Never has the negro been a
slacker when the nations call TO duty
came, never at any time has he been
an at any price" pacifisl. Against no
negro has there been lodged charge Of
treason; against the race OF indiNid-
uals AT no time has there been warrant
for suspicion of disloyalty.
The patriotism OF the American negro
is one hundred per cent American.