The Washington times., 1917-02-15
BETRAYING THE PRESIDENT
AND THE COUNTRY

The Mann amendment to the navy
bill, in view of existing circum-
stances, is an act of unpatriotism
amounting almost to moral treason.
In words, it is an empty reafirmation
of a commonplace aspiration, a mere
platitude. In its certain effect it is
an encouragement to the German
government to disregard the warn
ings of the President of the United
States, to snap its fingers at the
American flag, and to go on drown
ing Americans and sinking and
burning their ships upon the high
seas.
Minority Leader Mann, who snug
gled this most untimely declaration
through the House of Representa-
tives, does not appear to be wholly
without understanding Of the nature
Of his act. 1t is true that he is
capable of almost any degree of leg
islative stupidity. 1t is only neces-
sary to recall that he is the author
of the so-called "white slave" act,
with all its indictments to and faciG-
ties for .blackmail, to realize how
blind and reckless he can be in pro-,
noting legislation. But on the pres
ent occasion he cannot shield himself
altogether in the armor of his own
incompetence. The smirk, with which
he intimated that he knew he was
creating the appearance of opposi-
ton between the President and Con-
gress was a plain confession of con-
scious and malicious un-American-
ism.
Mr.. Mann has not even the poor
excuse Of that other leader of pol
troonery, Mr.. Kitchin. citizen of
Scotland-neck. He is not in the
same degree a peace-at-any-price
fanatic. His one single purpose and
interest in playing into the hands of
Germany is to play party politics, to
make trouble for Democratic Pres
ident.
This has been the only thing he
could see from the beginning in our
desperate relations with the Empire
of Frightfulness. His was the one
recreant voice when the President
sent his solemn menace of a diplo-
matte break after the torpedoing of
the Sussex. Today in the very
shadow of war and with multiplied
daily outrages at sea in which Amer
lean citizens and interests are in
volved he can rise to no higher view.
To the end he is the partisan and
not the patriot. How Illinois may
view his moral principles, we may
learn later. The country at large
looks upon him with contempt.
We have no idea that Mr.. Mann
can commit the country to abandon
ment of the manly and honorable
course marked out by President VIII
son. The Senate may be trusted 20
strike out the dangerouG declaration
o fpassive endurance of wrong. In
deed we are convinced that had there
been an opportunity to consider the
clause in its true bearings the House
would never have inserted it. It
was simply slipped in by surprise
and trickery. Apart from its base
ness at such time, all the sensible
members would have seen that so
far from tending to avert war it
would inevitably increase the
danger.
There is no more certain way to
lead Germany into declaring way
upon this COUNT or into acts which
will compel US to declare war than
by making her think that we are
afraid. The whole secret of her at
titude toward US is her belief in the
past that We were a money mad,
pleasure crazed race of groundlings
with an imperfect sense Of honor
and shrinking dread of suffering.
Germany thought We would stand
anything rather than fight. She
thought the same of England, the
nation of shopkeepers." But her
grotesque surprise when England
did fight taught her nothing. She
still thought that we, Of the same
race and held down besides by
hyphenate garrison, would never
dare cross her will.
Her new surprise at our recent ac-
ton has been again gro:esque; but
she remains unconvinced. Her cock
sureness has, perhaps, been shaken,
but at heart she does not believe --e
shall ever go to the extreme of de-
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