But whoever is a citizen—­he would be doing well in any event to stay away from the streets and squares where the noisy ones congregate.

There are very many Germans whose motto here, too, is:  “We Germans fear God and nothing else in the world.”  But whoever bellows that into the ears of hundreds of persons of hostile mind in the public market place is either a fool or—­weary of life.

In submarine warfare the Germans may be superior to the British, but in undermining the latter are superior to the former.  They have now succeeded in undermining the friendship between Uncle Sam and the Deutsche Michel.  Let us hope that the fuse can be extinguished before the explosion follows.

Charles Neumeyer, editor of The Louisville (Ky.) Anzeiger, in a dispatch on May 14 to THE NEW YORK TIMES, said of President Wilson’s note:

The American note to Berlin evidences the desire of the President to hold Germany to strict accountability for the loss of American lives in the Lusitania disaster.  This proceeding on the part of the American Government is eminently just and proper.  If the President had failed to hold Germany to strict accountability he would have failed of his official duty.  The President’s forceful action cannot be but of salutary effect in this country also.  It gives the American people the assurance that the Government at Washington is prepared and ready for the protection of American citizens wherever they may chance to be.

There was a time when the Government did not resort to very vigorous measures in this respect.  American citizens while traveling abroad were frequently subject to insult and violence, and the authorities at Washington seemingly paid little heed to complaints.  The result was that the American citizen abroad was not held in that respect which emanates from the knowledge that his home Government is prepared to go to the length of its ability, if necessary, to accord him protection.

One or two of the demands formulated against Germany do not meet with our approval.  The President demands a cessation of German submarine warfare on merchant vessels, but while the interruption of the starvation plan adopted by England against the civil population is urged upon the latter it will continue.  The starvation plan is primarily being waged against the weak and helpless, and is, therefore, responsible.  It is also in violation of the spirit if not the letter of international law.  If the President can force a demand for the cessation of the submarine warfare, he ought also to have the right to demand the lifting of the starvation blockade.  The tragedy was chiefly due to either stupidity or design on the part of the British Admiralty in failing to afford proper protection to the ship.  While we do not agree with the President on some points in his note, we repose the fullest confidence in his patriotism as well as his deliberate judgment as giving assurance that, whatever the outcome, the case of the American people rests in trustworthy hands.