Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-02-07
UNITED WE STAND.
(From the Chicago Herald)

conscious CnaL CnrOuSn no aCIS VI
hers will the rupture of diplomatic
relations with Germany broaden into
war, strong in the sense of unchal-
lengeable right as God gives her to
see the right, America waits the issues
of this tense and fateful time.
And she waits united. Whatever
may be the minor differences of inter-
est and politics among Americans, the
call of the nation on their patriotism
has never yet gone unanswered. With
one heart and with one voice the
people are rallying behind the Presi-
dent as he confronts the gravest re-
sponsibility of his career. All differ
ences are being sunk in the sense of a
common citizenship, Of patriotism
that is supreme above all else.
Occasional notes of half sedition and
of alienation from the common and
supreme interests Of the nation but
emphasize the vastness of the concord.
The foreign language press as whole
range itself periodically and unre-
servedly under the flag of united
country. The American press,
in spite of misguided utterance here
and there, realize deeply that, just as
Lincoln said no country could endure
"half slave an half free," so no pat
riotism can exist in Americas hour of
need that is half American and half
something else.
Saturday night it looked as If the
fateful decision that must be made by
Germany, if it is to be made at all,
had been registered even before the
President made his speech in Congress.
The Housatonic, "a regularly docu-
mented American vessel with an
American crew, had been sunk by a
submarine. Before further details
came it seemed as If this might be the
first gun in that campaign of submar-
inc ruthlessness which the civilized
world is even yet loath to Believe Ger
many will really undertake. The en-
tire nation felt the shock-and felt
itself ready for the consequences.
Fortunately advices yesterday some
what relieved the tepseness and Wash
ington was told officially that the ship
had been duly warned and that the
safety of the crew had been provided
for. If this information is borne out
by further official dispatches, the case
while still violation of the ancient
treaty between Prussia and the United
States which Germany tore up some
time ago, is still not one of utterly
outrageous and unprovoked agrees
sion; not such as would almost auto
matically call on the President to turn
to the further and most drastic pro-
gram he outlined to Congress.
Washington is taking certain nee
essary precautions. Seizure Of the in
termed German war vessels forestalls
a possible attempt to dash to the open
sea. Spcial guards at navy yards, ar
senals, muniti6h' PLATES % and docks,
preparations for the mobilization Of
regular army and National Guard
these come as 4 matter OF course at
such a time. Equally OF course
should come any legislation needed
Ito enable the government t9 deal with
the situation. These do not meanNar
any more than diplomatic rupture
does. They mean foresight.
AS the nation watches these evil
dences Of the character of the present
crisis it still echoes the Presidents
prayer that God will grant that no act
of unjustifiable aggression will chal-
lenge America to defend its dearest
rights. The patriotism that Is aroused
is too strong and deep to SAVIOR of
the lingo quality. 1t is calm, it is
sober, it will not abandon hope> a
peaceful issue until 1t is forced to do
so. And for us in Illinois it is a
source of solemn satisfaction that our
governor, by his message to the Presi-
dent, put Illinois at the head of that
stately procession Of states that make
up this republic zone and indfvisible +"