The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-11-01
PACE. SIX
Germany's InsOlence.

Germany's Insolence.
That was an apt phrase used by
Secretary McAdoo -"the insolence Of |
Germany in describing the demand
of the German imperial government
that the United States obey the Ger
man war zone decree and refuse Amer
lean citizens and American commerce
the right to use the highways OF the
sea. H. .r..
The fact is that insolence and con-
tempt for the American nation and the
American people have marked the at
titude and conduct Of the German i'm
perial government from the beginning
Of the war down to this day. 1t con-
sistently showed a contempt for the
courage and strength of the nation
and it's willingness and ability to main
tain it's honor and it's rights, and a
contemptuous disbelief in the integrity
and loyalty of the American people
toward their government and toward
themselves.
1t was not alone that they insulted
our nations honor by the ruthless
murder of our citizens on the high
seas. sending to death noncombatant
men and women and children, and by
DENYING to our commerce rights long
recognized by the international law
that prevails among civilized nations.
They made every effort, and sometimes
with success, to foment strikes and
disorders among factory and other
workers. They sought to debauch the
national spirit of the Americans. They
sought to make traitors of American
citizens and by systematic campaign
of falsehood and chicanery to poison
the minds of American people and es-
pecially the people of foreign birth
who were living amongst us.
They sought to make traitors or
slackers of our people and to make
enemies of friendly nations. When
the German ambassador and many
German representatives and citizens
were living here under our protection,
secure in the honor and good faith OF
America, they themselves were con-
spring against the peace of this coun-
try, and were in effect actually waging
war upon this country by giving in
formation by which ships were sunk
and by actual acts of war in the way
of destruction of property and lives
committed in this country. When Am
bassador Bernstorff in Washington wa
asking for money to influence tn,
American congress, Zimmerman, tn
foreign secretary in Berlin, was seek
ing to array Mexico and Japan agains
us. The rules of international law re
garding ambassadors have been he'll
by honorable nations to be particular
sacred, but German contempt of Amer
lea violated them without scruple.
Absolute contempt of America
g courage and willingness and ability
enforce our rights was shown by tn
German imperial government time an
time again. With one stroke Of tt
kaiser's pen in signing the war zor
decree it was sought to destroy mol
than So, 400 ,O0O,O 900 of our annual con
merce with Europe.
Our exports to the nations wit
which Germany is at war constitu
the greater half of our exports to tt
entire world. Not all the German in
perial army and navy can damage o.
commerce as much as the German In
perial government sought to do it
simple decree which it's insolent co
tempt of the United States led it
believe would be obeyed by us. N
yet, and never, can any nation wi
impunity order the vessels of t
United States off the high seas.
The challange Of the German imp
rial government has been met; sea a
land forces have been organized; shi
have been purchased and are bel
built; the nation is being organic
all along the line; nearly 100000
900 have been loaned to the natio
fighting Germany and more will
furnished them. The irresistil
might Of this organized invincible !
public is going to vindicate Americ
honor and American rights and
tablish peace, justice, liberty, a
right for itself and for the world.
Berlin has invited a comparison
tween the1German support of
seventh German war loan and
American support of the second L
~erty loan. This is another evide1
of German inability to appreci