The Keota news., 1917-04-06


The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels Of every kind.
whatever their flag. their character.
their cargo. their destination. their er-
rand, have been ruthlessly sent to the
bottom without warning and without
thought OF help or mercy for those
on board, the vessels of friendly neu-
trails along with those Of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carry
ing relief to the sorely bereaved and
stricken people Of Belgium. though
the latter were provided with safe
conduct through the prescribed areas
by the German government itself. and
were distinguished BY unmistakable
marks of identity. have been sunk
with the same reckless lack Of COM
passion or principle.
l was for q little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed II the humane
practices of civilized nations: Inter
national law had its origin In the At
tempt to set up some law, which
would be respected and observed upon
the seas, where no nation had right Of
dominion and where lay the free high
ways of the world. BY painful stage
after stage has that law been built
up with meager enough results, in
deed. after all was accomplished that
could be accomplished. but always
with . clear view. at least, Of what
the heart and conscience of mankind
demanded.
This minimum of right the Ger
man government has swept aside un-
der the plea Of retaliation and ne
cessity, and because It had no weap-
ons which It could use at sea except
these. which 1t Is impossible to en-
ploy n 1t IL employing them With
out throwing to the winds all scruples
Of humanity or Of respect for the un-
derstandings that were supposed to
underlie the intercourse OF the world.
am not now thinking of the loss Of
property involved, immense and SER
ious Is that is. but only Of the wan
ton and wholesale destruction OF the
lives OF non-combatants. men. women
and children, engaged In pursuits
which have always. even in the dark
est periods of modern history. been
deemed innocent and legitimate. Prop
erty can be paid for; the lives OF
peaceful and innocent people cahnot
be.
Kaiser Wages War Against Mankind.
The present German submarine war
fare against commerce Is . warfare
against mankind. It 10 war
against all nations. American ships
have been sunk. American lives taken.
In ways which It has stirred u very
deeply to learn of. but the ships and
people Of other neutral and friendly
nations have been sunk and over
whelmed in the waters in the same
way. There has been no discrimfna-
ton. The challenge IL to all mankind.
Each nation must decide for itself
how It will meet 1t. The choice we
make for ourselves must be made with
q consideration Of counsel and a tenn
pePateness OF Judgment befitting our
character and our natives as q ma
tion.
We must put excited feeling away.
Our motive will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion Of the physical
might Of the nation, but only the vim
dication of right, Of human right. OF
which we are only a single champion.
When addressed the Congress on
thought that 1t would suffice to as
right to use the seas against unlaw-
full interference. our right to keep our
people safe against unlawful violence
But armed neutrality. 1t now APP
pears, is impractical. Because subma-
rines are in effect outlaws when used
as the German submarines have been
used against merchant shipping. 1t is
to defend ships against
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