The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-02-05

Folks who have been hoping that
the rnited States would not be en-
quilted BY the European maelstrom
stand a good chance OF having their
hopes rudeiy shattered. Aishosrh no
formal declaration u waF has been
issued at the time this is written. he
situation j. 20 delicate that nosody can
peer very far nto the future asic PRE-
dict what IL going to transpire. Con-
ditionz have indeed reached such a
state where an overt act ON the part OF
Germany may cause the United States
20 Issue an immediate declaration that
a State OF war exists between the two
countries The seveging ~ DIPLOMATS
relations does not necessarily mean
war. although Il H. doubtful IL any,
thing can Intervene in this case 10 pre-
vent Il. A modification Of Germany =
ruthless sub warfare order a1l her
agreement 10 abide BY the rules q in
tornational law in the future probably
would relieve the tense situation and
prevent the breach from ~0etoming
any wider. However. In view OF the
fact that Germany has made what
many consider a last desperate effort
10 end the war quickly By starving
England cut, IL Is not likely that she
viii recede from her position. Tho
German emperor is making his last
stand. And whatever else Bill has been
charged with. ., cannot truthfuiiy be
said that he Is a gutter.
That war. u II cu..!es. will have been
forced upon the United states. none
can deny. President Wilson has met
Germany nor than hL. way in an
effort 10 keep tho country from becom-
ing involved In the European embrog-
lilo. We pocketed our pride In the
cases OF the Lusitania, the Fry. the
Arabic. the Sussex and many others
and a to settle them By re-
sorting 20 diplomacy. But hat meth
I'D apparently has been barren OF re-
suits. And finally the kaiser has seen
fit to prescribe n rule AZ action. The
rights OF neusrals are carefully de-
fined and the inference to be drawn
from his edict Is hat those who do
not like II mag 80 hence. II Is slim
ply another instance OF PrUssIan mill
itarlsm trying 10 dominate the world.
Wal Is all General Sherman said Il
was. and more. Those who have fol-
lowed the details OF the ;itanl struggle
In Europe. the awful slaughter. the
tales OF suffering. OF cities laid waste
and the countless other calamities that
nave bcfalien the country. have mol
desire 10 become involved therein. But
81 II is necessary to use force to main
tain our rights. 50 be II.
We differ politically. n even men
who belong TO the same party hold
DIVERGENT opinions IN mattegi pertain
ing ia national defese. Drepsredess ana
many other things affecting the we'll
fare ~ the country. But ~hen the
crisis comes II Is pleasing 10 observe
how men viii rally to the support OF
the president. Just 0s M~cKinley'sl
friends and opponents rallied tn his
support In 1S9s. President Wilson's
friends n opponents are backing him
up during the preset period. Mcmbe~s
of both political parties In congress
have endorsed his action and %annonnc-
ed that will stand By him. and
from all over the country similar en-
d%orsefncnts and promises are pouring
into the White House. In TACT 30
far as the returns TO date indicate
nbout the only man who ha- no., lined
up with the presidca. - Bill Bryan,
who apparently cllnss 10 the opinion
hat a prayer meeting would prove
more officacious than the sword in
dealing with ihe present situation
There are those who have criticised
the president in the past. Tavre are,
in fact, men occupying r%csponsibie
positions on soap boxes around tie
tiDAf III UAAtt a ftlH'i HIN Na fNfNNl
who could have settled our interna
tiOnal problems months ago-to hear
them tell II. But the president has
been In a position where he QUA KEGS?
his fingers on the pulse Of the 'i,gn-
ton. We never have doubted that he
act for the best interests Of the
az he saw them. lie a guided
The destinites OF the people through
a t%reaeherous passage during
he past two and a hair years. And
no matter II we have been his friend
DR. foe In the past, Il Is The Guty OF
American eitizen TO stand firm
behind him during the present nS-
az times. This il not an occasion for
,~arboring grudgos or allowing q
feelings TO assert themselves
rhe country needs the loyni support o.,
very