The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-02-27
TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS.

II Il evident from President win
sons address to congress yesterda,
that he does not intend that the Unit
ed states shall be intimated any long
cr nv 0ermany's submarine policy
bat that the necessary wheels shah b.
set In motion 20 release Americas
commerce aud permit American citi
sens TO 20 whittier they viii on th'
hish NJ even though Il may reauir,
the combined power OF tho United
States army and navy I o carry Out
this program.
/ The president made IL clear In his
last speech, as he has lone ON previ.
ious occasions. that he Is anxious "a
avoid war. The American people do
not want war. But there il no doubt
what the sentiment will be II Germany
persists In a violation OF International
law. In its utter disregard of the rights
OF neulrals and continues its iawless
work. Tho United States carries no
ehip on its shoulder. but i ready to
defend Itself IL Il Is necessary.
There are many people M do not
Understand the difference between the
British and German policy In regard
to blockades ma the sinking OF yes
sells. The British blockade observes
the principle OF warning. visit ard
search. as required by international
law. Under those safeguards the
lives OF the crews and passenger Of
seized vessels are not exposed to dan
ger and their cargoes arc left to ju-
dicial inquiry as 10 their c%ontrahand
Tor non-contraband nature. The Ger
man blockade repudiates those prin-
ciples and - conducted by an agcn,y
that preeludes both the sa~fe-guard;ns
Of life and the establishments bvfcro
any tribunal Of the rights Of the
ship and cargo owners. ships seized
By the British cruisers are taken into
q prize court. Those intercepted by a
German submarine are INK without
warning. Germany. therefore. sweeps
aside international law, shows no re-
|spect for the rights OF humanity. pre-
scribes n danger zone and issues the
edict, abandon hope all We who enter
here
The president did not ask congress
TO declare war, but in view ~ The TACT
that the day OF adjournment In draw
ing near he wants to be clothed with
authority TO act n take whatever
steps he deems advisable 10 protect
the rights OF Americans. should the
acute stage bs reached after congress-
adjourns. In other words. the pres
ident proposes that American COM
merce shall not be longer held up.
w though Il becomes necessary to
arm merchantmen. or use the navy 10
concoy vessels through the danger
zone. n hat Americans citizens are
free TO travel where they please on
the high seas.
As the matter stands now. after
merchantmen are armed. or after
they are being conveyed. a German
submarine il sunk after 1t had Mt
tackled an American ship. Germany nc
doubt would declare war. But the
attitude OF the president and OF the
American people Ia TO leave entirely
20 the German government the re-
sponsibility for a conflict with us.
The United States will not wage
war on Germany unless we are at
tackled. and IL We are forced into the
fight We are going into 1t with clean
hands.
IL we &c 10 war II will not be for
greed, for revenge. FOR hatred. for
self-aggrandizement or for territory.
II we have war il will be for the pro-
lection OF American rights and Amer
lean lives and for the rights Of hui
maniiy.
Another thing: Germany explains
that her U-boat campaign is due to
the fact hat Great Britain Is trying
20 starve the German nation. The
British blockade. which is meant to
|~starve the German people into sub
mission. II maintained by the British
war fleet. Why. then. are the German
submarines not sent against those
biochnding warships instead OF
against noncombatant merchantmen
that are connected with the controyer-
~ only In a distant ana indirect way
The German position corresponds %
that OF the neiRhDorhood bully who,
when worsted by q lad % equal or
superior strength. proceeds 20 lie in
wait for and thrash hat lads little
brother.
Let the German navy leave It's Sc
cure position and engage the British
fleet on the high seas. There are no
strings attached to the waiser's fleet
20 far as we orc aware Let Il come
out and crush the British sea power
But TO ignore the real menace and Try
90 make neutTals suffer for her