El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-02-08
WHILE THE WAR SHADOW HOVERS.
THINK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS

VERY SOON, perhaps any moment the people of thu
" United States viii probably be called upon express
through their representatives congress- their desire
wage against Germany to avoid The pres-
dent said that he will ask congress for authority
the military power OF the nation against Germany Ger
any carries her expressed intention sink neutral
ships without warning and without safeguarding
and cews Germany declares that she will carry out her
purpose in spite Of the American attitude. Time will tell
whether Germany will carry her RUTHLESS" the
letter. instruct her submarine commanders to let Amer
leans alone.
Americans shall think earnestly about the facts Of the
present situation and up their minds definitely
What ought be done if the expected covert act
1nitted.
The constitution commits to congress the power to de-
dare wal, but leaves the president at all times such
WIDE latitude make 1t lawful for him 10 lead the
country to the brink of and to permit order
hostile acts that may make inevitable War generally
begins declaration made The panRussa
and the American with pan began before any formal
declaration made and history affords many other
examples.
Congress has the constitutional right and power to
But congress responsible to the people While neither
the president congress bound await specific popular
the national government would welcome universal expression
Of opinion resolutions of state legislatures might help
TO define popular sentiment and the press is of
Election Of the popular will pacst league the east is
starting nation wide propaganda in favor of complete
national referendum before decareda popular vote
unlike ANYTHING provided for in the American constitution
Such project is visionary impractical and revolutionary;
matter of cold fact would be easier to promote
vote and the people TO frenzy, than it would be to
Of the mistaken idea that demoaces will not
sanction But is highly desirable that the people of
this country should prepare TO make up their minds
e issue and through the constitutional channels when
- tine comes
n the note handed BY the German ambassador to the
secretary Of state Germany declared that she would foTby
prevent the specified naval zone M navigation that
Of neuals included The note concludes with these
eguiTocal words:
@ALL SHIPS NET WITHIN THE ZONE WILL BE
SUNK"
ton that this order would take effect February ~with
further noticevords that admit of the construction
nat special notice would not be given by submarine to
victim and that all rules of warning and Of all
orthwh The Herald has said that these words admit of
This construction but there ioophoe: perhaps Ger
many did intend her words to be taken literally Time
viii tell
But the some FORM Americans
travelling belgeTen neutral ships certain to lose
heir lives by the operation of submarines The string of
and apologies the claims of accident and absence OF
intent viii out and the people of the United States Will
face to face with the acute crisis fOreshadowed when the
president said he would declaration of T Amer
ships and American lives should IN fact, be sacrificed
by German naval commanders IN needless conraventon of
the inst and reasonable understandings of international law
and the obvious dictates Of humanity
The presidents confidence that ali neutral nations will
take the course the United States has been shown
misplaced other neutral has vet followed
the American lead and shows disposition TO
If go H. 1t will be If go in shall it be
Of all the present belgerents shall
actively join the entente allies fighting against the
central povrs These questions important to be think
ING about but after all they subordinate TO the main
question.
Shall the United States wage against Germany
American ship American life be sacrificed by German