Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-03-09
THE BLACK FLAG.

The announcement of the Kaiser to
the world that all ships within GER
tain war zones shall be sunk without
wa ming, the cargo, passengers and
seamen destroyed without chance
to surrender, or an appeal to any
tribunal, regardless of all treaties and
international laws, of nations, is I'M
precedented in the history of civil
lied nations.
How long will the patience and for
bearance of President Wilson contin-
ue, awaiting the overt act? When
this pirate of the sea has already de-
clared war against the United States
in the decree above cited, and COM
mitted numerous acts of brutality
against this government, and dis
played the black flag of the sea pi-
rate, asking no quarters and giving
none.
There must be II halt in these brut-
al proceedings. This government can
not longer endure and must enter into
this war, however unwillingly), not
only to protect the lives and prop
crty Of her subjects. but the honor of
the nation, and the God given right
to traverse the high seas
VI tiiS NouIli anu lHc WOTlu u
tamely submit to this assumed illegal
authority by these pirates of the seas,
is a dangerous precedent to establish
and acquiesce in, and handed to flu
turc generations. There can be no
worlds peace under such conditions;
it would be simply granting to des-
perate power the right of piracy and
murder on the high seas. And for
| America TO submit, without using all
her manhood and wealth to resist, is
simply cowardice, and which in the
end will lead to the destruction and
subJurgation of any people SO acqui-
| eScing.
The fallacious ideas advanced by
some of our prominent citizens, Mr.
Bryan one of them, especially at a
time, when n state of war exists, and
when the President needed all the
| moral support of this nation, to aid
the enemies Of this country, to en-
barass and tie the hands of Mr.. Will
son, but his published letters of peace
At any price, to say the least was not
astonishing, but brutal. But then, Mr.
Bryan WAS always erratic and cannot
l'e taken seriously. The President has
been patient and forebearing beyond
all expectations under such grievous
conditions, and he may be assured of
one fact--that he does not rule Il ma
ton of imbeciles and towards, not
withstanding the song of the siren for
peace at any price.
Neutrality has ceased to be factor
in this war--by the imperial order OF
the Kaiser. He has challenged the
world and forced the world into the
conflict, erected the "Black Flag" and
assumed practical control of the seas
So IL is worlds war and we are
participants in it, and cannot evade
the issue. And the other neutral ma
tons are crying to you, Mr.. Wilson
to lead them in this struggle for free
dom from piracy-for the benefit of
future generations, and the overthrow
of militarism, and to secure a worlds
peace-a peace that will prevent such
repetition of such atrocious crimes
against humanity. as we have been
compelled to witness since the war
began.
And fear not. for you have the sup
port of all the loyal and patriotic
people of your own country and all
the material factors that are neccssa-
ny to bring the war to quick and
successful ending.
JAS. p. WHITMAN.
Horsepen, Va, March. 3.