The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-02-06
No Retreat With Honor

TINE United States faces a situation today In
= which there appears to be no retreat with
honor This country must stand by the princi-
plies which have been declared in our name by
President Wilson. or we must drink the bitterest
dose Of recsntaton ever presented to any nation.
We must now make good our words or swallow
them. with the whole world looking on. NJ,
Our President has notified Germany that in the
prosecution Of its share of the naval warfare it
must restrict its actions to the recognized rules
Of international law and limit them according to
the laws of humanity II is true that we have not
lived up to the brave words uttered, but neither
have we as yet accepted complete and utter
defiance of our warnings, such as is contained in
the German note of Wednesday.
1t must be taken for granted that the govern
ment of Germany has not issued its latest ultima
tun to the neutral world without full considera-
ton of the possible action of the United States.
II must be taken for granted that Germany means
what its note says and that all the consequences
have been weighed. II may almost be taken for
granted that Germany looks upon all the warnings
and threats of the United States as empty bluffs
and the bold utterances of Woodrow Wilson as
phrases meaningless Of intent. s.a#
And now the show down has come. Either we
will confess that all our notes have been void of
substance, our rhetoric without intention and the
declarations of our championship of the rights of
neutrals only hollow pretensions meant to deceive
the world and tickle our own sense of the vain
glorious, we will act like men conscious of the
right and willing to assume in the eyes of the
world the position won for us by our fathers and
willing to fulfill the duties entailed.
What will President Wilson do?
Will he tamely submit to the German terms
which regulate our whole activities upon the At
s lav,f ard h. ,f -
less to be considered than little Holland or Swift
orlando He has his own created presidents to fol-
low if such is to be his course.
Or, will he act as the President of the United
States should act, accept the challenge dare Ger
many to carry out her threats and launch all the
might of the Union into the conflict if Germany
should strike one more blow against us? .a.,a|
He would surprise none by doing this 1t is
what the ration expects him to do despite all the
backcowns of the past. The nation looks to-
Woodrow Wilson, to rise to this occasion and to
lead the United States out of the ignominous POI
stion in which we have allowed ourselves to be
placed. ,@E#
The issue faced today by the President is no
academic question. 1t is the real thing He has
it in his power to play the man and lead united
people in the cause Of Right, to play the craven,
seeking excuses to salve his own conscience and
making pretty explanations to sugarcoat the bitter
pill of national humiliation. & @::.. .....
We believe the President will act as President
of the United States should act We believe that
this latest manifestation of German arrogance of
German disregard for pledges, treaties and the
common rights of humanity will not be tolerated.
We look for action and not for words The day
for notes has passed and we believe that Wood
row Wilson will soon make ii evident that
this is so. .... .". 49,.