The Washington herald., 1917-02-12

come until the hnai challenge was pre-
sented Only the issue of national de-
fense. OF peace and war. could try the
conflicting elements with fire and fuse
them into single devotion
What We wish to underscore Is the
fact that the problem of German Ameri-
cans is the problem of America. For bet
ter. for worse, we are a mixed race.
Almost any issue with another nation
raises a natural conflict of loyalty. To
understand that conflict, to sympathize
with 1t. and to give our fellowship and
good will to every citizen of alien stock
In his hour of trial we conceive to be our
plain duty as Americana That our citi-
zens Of German stock are showing their
loyalty under the supreme test should
be a source Of pride to US ALL"
Philadelphia Public Ledger.
- The fact that no American ship
has yet been sunk is a mere detail. Ger
many has denied the American right to
the freedom of the seas. and American
ships are now tied up in port in conse-
huence of her threats. Nor is this q matter
that concerns ship-owners alone; every
interest suffers. Furthermore, the inter-
ference with the transmission of the
mails is a grievance that no government
could be expected to endure. II our ports
were legally blockaded we should be bet
ter on, Tor our ShpS, thOugn HaDle 10
seizure, would not be threatened with de-
struction. By yielding to German terror
ism. by making no effort to enforce our
rights. we are permitting Germany to
make war upon us without striking back
The sinking of an American ship would
accentuate the injury; II would not alter
its essential character.
In the circumstances, how can the
President do less than employ every
Trag Na aV,I A
can citizens in the exercise of their un-
doubted rights? He cannot be under any
Illusion as to the purposes of Germany
He cannot believe that German subma-
rines would hesitate to sink an American
ship as they have been sinking other neu-
trail ships. He cannot maintain after the
attempt to detain our Ambassador. in
the face of every principle of international
law, that the German government is in
any sense friendly. Every consideration
Of national safety. every consideration OF
national honor, demands an active defense
of rights that no nation can surrender
without repudiating its own sovereignty.
The state of war has come despite all our
efforts to avoid II.
Baltimore News.
s'' Germany is of course a long way
from effectively debarring commerce
from access TO England. Apparently, she
has not even attempted operations In the
rest of the great ocean area included in
her war zone. Nevertheless, the time
is past when we can commit ourselves
to one idea regarding submarines one day
and to another the next. The destruc-
ton of allied and neutral shipping is pro-
ceeding at fast enough a rate to sug-
gest the gradual capitalization, at least,
Of the fundamental question OF the sub
marine-the alternative OF its tentative
legality or its complete illegality as a
commerce destroyer. The hopes Of the
Germans. II not as yet their perform
ances. are giving this question concrete
form.
1t is not yet time to say whether. grant
ed general legitimacy of behavior, the
United States would be willing. under any
circumstances. to admit the validity of
blockade enforced by submarines, no
matter how effective 1t might be There
would be pretty turmoil here, at any
rate. IL we should put ourselves in posi-
| ton where, because of submarine opera
tions. We could not legitimately send
ships and cargoes to England and claim
respect for them. But certainly 1t would