AMERICAN SENTIMENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 281, 1 June 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

AMERICAN SENTIMENT.

Concretely, so far as the United States is concerned, the issue with Germany is wiiotlie* or not American ships and American citizens shall exereise the common right to gi where they will on the sea highways; whether or not her ships and people shall be subject to the direction and limitations of the German Governments. Broadly, the issue presented is the doctrine of the German Government that a nation is entitled to take suet liberties with the rights of other nations as its interests require, by the exercise of its aggressive power. Aggravating this issue, and forcing the defensive power of the United States into action, is the sinking of a dozen or n ore American ships and the loss at sea of 200 it more American lives. Since the declaration of war it has been made abundantly clear that tho American people arc hack of the President in his attitude towards Germany. The press of the country has voiced the sentiments of the people, and recently a great mass meeting at New York put into wordswhat the whole country has been thinking. Said Theodore Roosevelt: "Unless wo shall strik" hard and effectually in response to these brutal and unprovoked injuries- we shall show ourselves unworthy to l>c the heirs of the steadfast soldiers of Washington, unworthy to claim kinship with the men of high soul who, undo;- the l>annors of Grant and Lee. proved their truth by their endeavours." Said Elihu Root, the great American : "If the present war in Europe ends without a victory over the nations who hold the doctrine that a state is entitled to take what its interest requires, with the strong arm, there will be no pce.ee or sarety for free democracies in this world, except all free countries be turned into armed camps." Said President John Grier Hibben, of Princeton University: "I believe in peace at any price, and the price at tho prc-onttime is war." Similar sentiments were expressed by a long list of representative Americans at tho New York meeting. The resolutions adopted at tnat gathering bespeak the feeiing of Patriotic Americans everywhere. Tho declaration of war bas been foi'owed by the expeditious passage of the Bill for universal military training, and by evidence of prompt and vigorous leadership in the mobolisjati'on of the naval, military and industrial strength of the nation for the effective protection of American rights. New York, the most cosmopolitan city of the United States, possessing a greaier proportion of citizenship in men of foreign blood than any other c ; ty in the country, expressed the American message clearly, emphatically and effectively, and there can no longer be doubt that North, South, East and We-t, the States of the Union share theso same sentiments.