The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-15
HOW THE WAR CAME
TO AMERICA

But our principal controversy
with the German Government, and
the one which rendered the situation
at once acute, rose out of their an
nouncement of a zone where their
submarines would operate in viola
ton Of all accepted principles Of in
ternational law. Our indignation at
such a threat was soon rendered pas
sionate by the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania. This attack upon our rights
was not only grossly illegal it de-
fled the fundamental concepts Of
humanity. Aggravating restrainst on
our trade were grievances which
could be settled by litigation after
the war, but the wanton murder Of
peaceable men and Of innocent wo-
men and children, citizens Of ma
ton with which Germany was at
peace, was a crime against the civil
lied world which could never be set
tied in any court.
Our government, however, in
spired still by desire to preserve
peace if possible, used every re-
source of diplomacy to force the
German Government to abandon
such attacks. This diplomatic cor
respondence, which has already been
published, proves beyond doubt that
our Government sought by every
honorable means to preserve faith in
that mutual sincerity between ma
tons which is the only basis of
sound diplomatic interchange.
But evidence Of the bad faith of
the Imperial Government soon piled
up on every hand. Honest efforts on
our part to establish a firm basis of
good neighborliness with the Ger
man people were met by their Gov
eminent with bubbles, misrepresen-
tations, and counter accusations
against their enemies abroad. And
meanwhile in this country official
agents Of the Central Powers-pro-
tected from criminal prosecution by
diplomatic immunity conspired
against our internal peace, placed
spies and agents provateurs through
out the length and breadth Of our
land, and even in high positions Of
trust in departments Of our Govern
ment. While expressing a cordial
friendship for the people Of the Uni
ted States, the Government Of Ger
many had its agents at work both
in Latin America and Japan. They
brought or subsidized papers and
supported speakers there to rouse
feelings Of bitterness and distrust
against us in those friendly nations,
in order to emboil us in war. They
were melting to instruction in
Cuba, in Haiti, ,and in Santa Do
mingo; their hostile hand was
stretched out to take the Danish Is
lands; and everywhere in South
America they were abroad sowing
the sedes of dissension, trying to
stir up one nation against another
and all against the United States.
In their sum these various opera
tions amounted to direct assault up
on the Monroe Doctrine. And even
if we had given up our right to ira
vel on the sea, even if we had sur
rendered to German threats and
abandoned our legitimate trade in
munitions, the German offensive in
the New World, in our own land and
among our neighbors, was becoming
too serious to be ignored.
So long as it was possible, the
Government of the United States
tried to believe that such activities,
the evidence of which was already in
large measure at hand, were the
work Of irresponsible and misguided
individuals. 1t was only reluctantly,
in the fact of overwhelming proof,
that the recall of the Austro- Hun
garian ambassador and of the Ger
man military and naval attaches was
demanded. Proof of their criminal
violations Of our hospitality was pre-
sented to their Governments. But
these Governments in reply offred
no apologies nor did they issue re-
primands. 1t became clear that such
intrigue was their settled policy.
In the meantime the attacks of
the German submarines unon the