. These objections
concerned only the rights of neutral property on the high seas. We knew
by positive assurance from England, and by our experience with her in
the Alabama Claims Arbitration, that she was ready to refer all such
questions to an impartial tribunal and abide by its decision. Our
objections to the conduct of the German navy concerned the far more
sacred rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

The murder of one American child at sea meant more to us than the
seizure of a thousand cargoes of alleged contraband.

No one has ever accused the British or French or Italian sailors in this
war of sinking merchant-ships without warning, leaving their crews and
passengers to drown. On the contrary, British seamen have risked and
lost their lives in a chivalrous attempt to save the lives even of their
enemies after the fair sinking of a German war-ship.

But the hands of the Potsdam pirates are red with innocent blood. The
bottom of the sea is strewn with the wrecks they have made. "The dark
unfathom'd caves of ocean" hide the bones of their helpless victims, who
shall arise at the judgment-day to testify against them.

On May 7, 1915, the passenger liner Lusitania, unarmed, was sunk without
warning by a German U-boat off the Irish coast. One hundred and fourteen
Americans--men, women, and little children, lawful and peaceful
travellers--were drowned--

"Butchered to make a [German] holiday."

The holiday was celebrated in Germany. The schools were let out. The
soldiers in the reserve camps had leave to join in the festivities. The
towns and cities were filled with fluttering flags and singing folks. A
German pastor preached: "Whoever cannot bring himself to approve from
the bottom of his heart the sinking of the Lusitania--him we judge to be
no true German." (Deutsche Reden in Schwerer Zeit, No. 24, p. 7.) A
medal was struck to commemorate the great achievement. It is a very ugly
medal. I keep a copy of it in order that I may never forget the
character of a nation which was not content with rejoicing over such a
crime but desired to immortalize it in bronze.

The three strong and eloquent notes of President Wilson in regard to the
Lusitania are too well known to be quoted here. The practical answer
from Potsdam (passing over the usual subterfuges and falsehoods) was the
sinking of the Arabic August 19 and the murder of three more Americans.
Then the correspondence languished until the tor