Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-02

Continued from page Ons)
government that on and after the first
DAY Of February il was its purpose to
PUT aside all restraints Of law or hu-
manity and use its submarines TO sink
every vessel that sought TO approach
either the ports of Great Britain and
Ireland or the western coasts of Europe
or any of the ports>controlled by the
enemies Of Germany within the Medit-
erranean. That had seemed TO be the
object of the German submarine var
fare earlier in the war, but since April
of last year the Imperial German gov
ernment had somewhat restrained the
commanders of its undersea craft in
conformity with promise then given us
that passenger boats should not be sunk
and that due warning would be given
to all other vessels winch its submarines
might seek to destroy when no resis-
tanee was offered or escape attempted
and care taken that their crews were
given at least fair chance to save
their lives in their open boats. The
precautions taken were meagre and hap
hazard enough as was proved in dis
tressing instance after instance in the
progress of the cruel and unmanly bu-
siness, but a certain degree of restraint
was observed. The new policy has
swept every restriction aside. Vessels
Of every kind, whatever their flag,
| their character, their cargo, their des-
| tination, their errand, have been ruth
lessly sent to the bottom without warn
ing and without thought of help or mer-
| cy for those on board Even hospital
| ships and ships carrying relief to the
sorely- -bereaved and stricken people of
Belgium, though the latter were pro-
| vided with safe conduct through the
prescribed areas by the German govern
ment itself and were distinguished by
unmistakable marks of identity, have
been sunk with the same reckless lack
of commission or OF principle.
Inhumanity Beyond Belief.
/ ] was for little while unable to be
lieve that such things would in fact be
done by any government which had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter
national law had its origin in the at
tempt TO set up some law which would
be respected and observed upon the seas
i Wnele HO ndtlOh udd rlShl VI uohllhioi
and where lay the free highways OF thu
world. By painful stage after stag
has that law been built up with meage
enough results. indeed after all was ac
complished that could be accomplished
but always with clear view, at least
of what the heart and conscience o
mankind demanded, The minimum o
fright the German government has swep
aside under the plea OF retaliation an
} Ineeessity and because 1t had no Wea
pons which it could use at sea exeep
z az it is employing them without throw
II ing to the winds all scruples of human
q | ity or of respect for the understanding
@ that were supposed to underlie the II
4 tercourse OF the world.
oil | am not now thinking OF the loss
r. property involved, immense serious
That Is, but only OF the Wanton an
d wholesale obstruction OF the llves 9
It noh-eompatanis' men, women ana ehii'
ren, engaged IN pursuits sWhleh nave
Ways even IN tne daEliest pefloos
noaerh history peeh. deemed lhhoeei
gnu ,esl'inlate Iropeety can pe pal
i ~ t"e ilses ~ peTyeiul nv ana innocel n
II Iepp,e .alhot ~ hno pipsone eelilia 's'
"D'''',s ~ ime m"'ra.e "sa,sst Jop'iiof0'
IL Wsr TTno,, sii Ns+inns
IS r. i wor ana,nst 81, nst;ons A !,
n ar;can sbins hoye l.oan s,,nL ,,,, Snaor;aa
n lives taken IN rays ,yb;eh; 4 hos ,ti st;rrp
to rs very deenlv ~ learn of bnt u
n, sbins and neonla Of otbnr neutrai or
ar friendly nations hava bean snnk o.
overwhelmed in the waters in. the san
way. There has been no discriminate
The challenge is to all mankind Ia,
n nation must decide for itself how
Id will meet it.
ry The choice we make for ourselv
IT. must be made with moderation
counsel and temperatures of iud
ment befitting our character and o,
motives as a nation. We must put &
cited feeling away. Our. motive wi
r. not be revenge or the victorious asse
10 ton of the physical might of the n
tion, but only the vindication of RICH
n. of human right of which we are on
ON single champion.
w Armed Neutrality Fails.
is, When | addressed the congress {
Of the twenty.sixth Of February last.
DIS thought that it would suffice to asse
re 1,