The United States had been posing for three years as the champion of neutral rights; the point of view of Washington had been that there was a great principle at stake.

If such a principle were involved, it was certainly present in just the same degree after the United States became belligerent as in the days when we were neutrals.

The lofty ideals by which the Administration had professed to be guided should have still controlled its actions; the mere fact that we, as a belligerent, could obtain certain advantages would hardly have justified a great and high-minded nation in abandoning its principles.

Yet abandon them we did from the day that we declared war.

We became just as remorseless in disregarding the rights of small states as Great Britain--according to our numerous blockade notes--had been.