Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-12-06

EV 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
bidon 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 its 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 Beigians 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
volved.
AS events followed events and the
frightfulaess of the German military
policy became more and more evident
those among us who sympathized with
the German cause were little by little
alfenated. There was still an under
current of hope that we might not be
drawn into the terrible conflict. Pres
fdent Wilson endeavored in every way
possible, consistent with the national
honor and dignity, to avert the dis
aster of war. On May 81, 1915, he
urged the warning nations to state
their peace terms, and pledged that
the United States would become a
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 nOnc0mbatant American men and
helpless women and children. This
act was so constituencies and inhu-
man. so contrary to all the rules Of
civilized warfare, that shudder Of
horror ran throughout the American
republic. and the few remaining SYM
pathizers with the German cause saw
they could no longer continue their
friendship for any nation guilty Of
such deliberate acts Of brutality and
eayagery.
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-
sfty. He wrote note of protest to
the German rulers. They promised
they would sink no more merchant
ships without warning, and for 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
ty waited, ignoring the malignant cri-
dcfsm and bitter attacks Of some Of
those who insisted that we could no
longer honorably remain out Of the
conflict.
!. AS late as January %, 1917, the pres
adent addressed the senate, urging q
plan Of lasting peace among the ma
tons through international arrange
ment. A few days thereafter 1t be-
came known that on January 16, 1917,
the German rulers had sent a secret
note to Mexico and Japan, attempting
to unite them in a war against the
United States, and promising to give
Mexico in turn part of the United
States. Then Germany notified our
government that it would no longer
keep its promise not to sink merchant
ships without warning. BY plain i'm
plication it admitted that it had given
this promise merely to gain time for
preparation for warfare of hideous
frightfulness. What was to be done?
Every effort Of diplomacy had been ex-
hausted. American ships were being
sunk without warning, the American
flag was being insulted and fred upon,
American men and women were being
butchered, the mailed fist Of Germany's
war lord was being shaken at Amer
lean institutions. German spies in
Tested our country, endeavoring to, in
cite discomfort, strikes, and even civil
war. 1t was plain that the German
autocracy regarded this republic with
contempt, and its entrance or .nonen-
trance into the war as matter of in
difference. National honor and ma
tional safety demanded that something
should be done. Submission to such
wrongs would have been objectionable
national cowardice. Only one thing
could be done, all other means having
been exhausted. The American peo-
pie then realized that, If the German
autocraey should overcome the Euro