The Washington times., 1917-04-09
LEWIS IN SENATE
ANSWERS HOLLWEG
Replies to German chanceIlor's
Charges, Defending Course
, Taken BY U. S..
Continued from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page.D
upon that which was wholly and only
American, while America was extend
ing her hand Of friendship and gener.
Gus aid to Germany?
"Yet there by the order OF Prussia
was the deliberate and wanton muir.
der OF poor, defenseless seamen upon
the three ships, one following the
other, in the month of March, and now
two in this month of .April-each of
which carried the American flag, blaz-
ing their stars and stripes against the
sky and heralding from bow and stern
their names and nationality.
This was but the act OF cruelty and
ingratitude that can find no voice that
can excuse II In all Christendom-
and none to forgive II. This was the
act Of those mad for conflict, craving
hatreds and reckless and defiant of
the laws OF the nations or the rights
OF humanity.
There, upon the seas, splintered
and shattered were the floating spars
and timbers OF these wrecked and
murdered ships, and upon the rising
waters running madly to the shores,
as IL to carry the message of the
black deeds-were the upturned faces
of the drowned, helpless men, hope
less women and defenseless children
and this the work of those who did
the deed in the name of valorous war
fare.
No Notice Given.
mo notice-no signal-no attempt
to discover or search to ascertain that
the ships bore evidence OF enmity or
friendship-but without investiga-
tion, without regard, without feeling.
they were sent to their doom of death
by Germany-to have discovered be-
fore the world that these ships car
ried not a vestige OF that which was
forbidden by the law of war, nor any
thing OF any nature of enmity to Ger
many or OF injury TO mankind.
They were Americans, murdered by
those whom America at that moment
was befriending at the risk OF her
friendships with other nations with
whom she had been at peace and
friendship for 100 years, and up to
this hour not one word renouncing the
deed, or expressing regret for the
deed
Surely America could not endure
this longer without presenting her
self before the world as unworthy
the support of her own children, and
only deserving of the contempt of
mankind. As Fisher Ames cried out
In Congress. in April, 1896, as against
similar wrongs by Britain: Could the
citizen look with affection and yen
Grafton to such a country as his par
ent? The sense OF having one would
die within him, he would blush for
his patriotism, IL he retained any,
and justly, for IL would be a vice.
He would be a banished man in his
native land
Neeeasary TO Strike.
The able Senator from Wisconsin,
Mr.. La Toilette, says we should pass
this a. q tustined course of'Germany.
reply that to have allowed this
and to have suffered Il without re-
sentiment, was to have invited the
meanest nation to assaiI US from any
quarter and to present ourselves to
the future as unworthy to longer live
ss Q republic of respect, or a govern
ment Of justice and liberty.
For the preservation OF ourselves
as against those who would have
taken advantage OF our humiliating
submission to these murderous as
saults, it was necessary that we
strike back, and in this hour strike
with the united stroke Of our indig-
nant country-sustained by the uni
ted voice OF our patriotism-that de-
crees before the world, under the
guidance Of God that THIS IS
AMERICA.
. 1T is this America, which for the
vindication of her nation, the rights
OF her sons and her daughters-now
goes TO war and to the victory that
ever belongs to the right and to the
blessing that God ever gives to the
righteous"