Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-08
WENDENBURC OPPOSES
Rash ENTRY into WAR
State Senator From Richmond Dis.
cusseS Americas Foreign
Relations.
BOTH SIDES ARE OFFENDERS
Would Have Americans Keep Out of
War Zone and Not Prccipitatc
Conflict That Would Range Amer
lea With EiOlator OF Sea Freedom.

lea With IioIator of Sea Freedom.
America. in rash hour of resent
ment against Germany for the rcsump-
tion by that country OF indiscriminate
submarine warfare within certain
specified zones. should no: :eopardize
her position AS u commanding influence
in bringing about lasting peace he
tween the warning nations of Europe.
according To Louis -. WcndcnhurE.
state Senator from Richmond ami
one ~ tho :,cst-known mon OF German
descent in Virginia.
The United states against which
both sides in the European conflict
have sinned ny disregard OF intcrna-
tional laws and the rights of ncutrals.
must, says Senator Wcndcnburc he
more than patient with tic nations at
war, and suffer. il need he, many Of its
rights to he injured in order to hn
ever ready to bring about restora.
ton OF peace. THIS is tho nation lie
SAYS, through which peace will nc ac-
complished. and President Wilson Rs
the ordained man of tho hour
Senator Wendenburg points ont tho
German is characterized by an intense
love Of homo and family, and by his
obedience to tho Will o! the govern
ment which protects him. Though ma
turally admirinS the race from whence
he sprung and fcrvcntly hoping tina,
there may never nc any serious CON
fiict between Tcuton and American. no
citizen Of this country. says the Sena.
tor. will he quicker to respond 10 the
call TO its defense, should that occas-
sion arise.
hsCRTBES Rad FEELING
TO AMERICAS Press
TO the American press Senator Wen
denhurE ascribes much of the had
feeling which exists between this coun-
try and Germany. When Inc central
powers offered the peace terms which
England and her allies rejected. tho
press lost it's great opportunity he
says, to strike a powerful blow in nc
half OF peace. Instead of this. how
ever. II saw only the many wrongs
chroniclcd by the world conflict. and.
hy elimination and recrimination OF
the parties to it, only inf1amed tho
passions OF tho people. The rreSi-
dent, though. Senator Wendenburs
said has stood firm, and almost
single handed delivered to tho Senate
his remarkable address on the peace
policy az .His government.
This world consuming war must
soon end" he said. and this nation
must hold itself ready TO assist in
bringing about an Understanding with
honor, and without diShouor, to All
hc useless, If allow our passions
TO become ntlamed. When tho peace
prosperity liberty ana security or one
side are forced through it's dislonor
and made 10 depend on tho honor OF
the other side, there can he no peace
prosperity. liberty nor security. To
depend on the honor Of another coun-
try is To depend on its will. and to de-
pcnd on the will Of another country
IS serrility. If not slavery.
RoTH HAVE VIOLATED
INTERNATIONAL LAWS
Looking At the conduc, Of both
parties TO this Worldwide conflict from
our viewpoint. both have violated in
t"rna ttoihi law and our sacred rights
II this government were closely in
NoiN"d in such nerve rackinr war
and as : now horrifyinr and .!cicninE
I'll" world, and saw tho youth and
brains Of our country destroyed in
this slaughtcr-pen by the millions. and
unable TO stop this all consuming con
7 ti"Sranon. that is ready TO consume
the world. who can say what efforts
/ desperation might cause this country
I 10 adopt To put an cud TO this cnor-
/ nous destruction. We must try to
realize that our brothers are engaged
| in relentless war.
Man formed government for the pro-
lection of mis- rights. and while gov
lily indebted to government There
arc times when government suspends
/ laws and mans rights. There never
was q time when there was a greater
necessity for tho suspension of the
rights Of those few citizens, who will
insist upon entering tho war zone
This government should say to these
they must not enter this zone for the
general welfare OF the majority, and
I II such citizens voluntarily and dc.
!ihcrately, If not willtully disresarc
this. and are willing to ieopard;zc the
peace OF this nation. he forfeits the
protection OF this government Wher
England arbitrarily adopted the wal
zone many miles beyond the three.
mile limit. where the freedom Of the
omen sea begins and when she inter.
icred with our mails. and our neutra
commerce destined to neutral ports
entering this zone. she not only VIC
. lated International law. but our sacred
rights. and in 1872 We declared wal
on her for a very much less interference,
with our rights on the open sea
DOES NOT REGARD THIS
As SUFFICIENT CAUSE OF MAI
"Eu, would IL not be foolish for thi!
country to make this cause Of wa
under the present conditions" WheI
Germany crossed Belgium without he
consent. she violated international Law
governing neutrals, and thus indirectl,
did us an injury Is one OF the faml,
Of neutral nations. Germany tries t,
excuse this because OF the diScovere,
inimical attitude Of Belgium. but thi
interview has nothing TO do with thi
controversy. When she destroyed on
merchant commerce and our citizens
in disregard Of the fixed rules Of in
tcrnational law, she also violated on
sacred rights. even though she offer