The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1917-11-23

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many, unless he be ignor.
@V ant Of why we did so. We
W. have viewed for years the
preparations for war being made by
Germany, little dreaming that they
might concern us, though occasionally
there was apprehension as to the am
bition of the German rulers to be to
the modern world what the Roman
rulers were to the world of their time.
When the day came for which Ger
many had been so long preparing she
suddenly hurled her tremendous mill
tary forces at the adjoining nations
Americans read with amazement of
the ruthless violation of the rights of
neutrals and the reckless disregard of
treaty obligations on the part of Ger
many, but the war in it's beginning
seemed remote from our affairs and
not necessarily to affect American
rights. There were advocates of each
of the contending nations among us,
and strict neutrality was maintained
The cruel treatment of the conquered
and enslaved Belgians excited our
sympathy and aroused our resent
ment, but there was no certainty then
that these acts had the approval of
the German rulers, SO the American
republic remained neutral, and the
American people hoped against hope
that America might not become in
.yolved.
8 AS events followed events and the
frightfulness of the German military
those among us who sympathized with
the German cause were little by little
Hlienated. There was still an under
current Of hope that we might not be
drawn into the terrible conflict. Pres
Adent Wilson endeavored in every way
possible, consistent with the national
honor and dignity, to avert the dis
aster of war. On May 81, 1916, he
urged the warning nations to state
their peace terms, and pledged that
tho United States would become
partner in any scheme of lasting peace.
The answer of Germany was evasive
and unsatisfactory. Then came the
sinking of the Lusitania and the wan
ton murder by drowning of hundreds
of noncombatant American men and
helpless women and children ~ This
act was. so consciencelesss and inhu-
man, so contrary to alk< the rules of
civilized warfare, thai shudder Of
horror ran throughout the American
republic, and the few remaining sym
pathizers with tie German cause saw
they could n@ longer continue their
friendship fer any nation guilty Of
such deliberate acts of brutality and
sayagery.
T, -. President Was Patient.
~ The demand came from end to end
of the nation to declare war against
this monster which was running amuck
among the nations. The president,
however, was patient. He hesitated
to lead the nation into the awful vor-
tex Of war and endeavored to save the
national honor without that dire neces-
sity. He wrote a note of protest to
the German rulers. They promised
they would sink no more merchant
ships without warning, and for q time
1t was thought that the crisis might
pass, but 1t was only hope to those
who realized the German purpose OF
world domination. The president calm.
ly waited, ignoring the malignant cri-
ticism and bitter attacks Of some OF
those who insisted that we could nc
longer honorably remain out OF the
conflict.
AS late as January %, 1917, the pres
ident addressed the senate, urging 9
plan of lasting peace among the ma
lions through international arrange
ment. A few days thereafter it be
came known that on January 16, 1917
the German rulers had sent secre'
note to Mexico and Japan, attempting
to unite them in war against thu
United States, and promising to give
Mexico in turn part of the United
States. Then Germany notified oul
government that it would no Longer
keep its promise not to sink merchan
ships without warning. BY plain i'm
plication it admitted that it had givel
4tIllS PIOlulSc AACACAJ " SUN same 49,
preparation for a warfare of hideou
frightfulness. What was to be done
Every effort of diplomacy had been ex
hausted. American ships were beinI
sunk without warning, the American
flag was being insulted and fired upon
American men and women were bein
butchered, the mailed fist Of Germany
war lord was being shaken at Amer
lean institutions. German spies in
tested our country, endeavoring to In
cite discomfort, strikes, and even civi
war. 1t was plain that the Germa
antocracy regarded this republic wit
contempt, and its entrance or noner
trance into the war as matter of In
difference. National honor and n;
tional safety demanded that somethin
should be done. Submission to sue
wrongs would have been unpardonabl
national cowardice. Only one thin
could be done, all other means havin