Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-20

ations and assurances Of the Uperial
German government as given In en-
tire sincerity and good faith, and has
hoped, even against hope, that IL
would prove to be possible for the
German government so to order and
control the acts of it's naval COM
manders as to square its policy with
the principles of humanityaas embod-
led in the law of nations. 1t has been
willing to wait until the significance
of the facts became absolutely unmis.
taxable and susceptible of but one in
depreciation 49,.
Il. The Last Straw.
That point has now unhappily been
reached The facts are susceptible of
but one interpretation The imperial
German government has not been able
to put any limits or restraints upon Its
warfare against either freight or pas
senger ships. 1t has therefore be-
come painfully evident that the posi-
ton which this government took at
the very outset Is inevitable. namely.
that the use Of submarines for the de.
struction Of any enemy's commerce is
of necessity, because of the very
character Of the vessels employed and
the very methods of attack which
their employment Of course involves,
incompatible with the principles of
humanity, the long established and in
conference.-the rights Of neutrals and
the sacred immunities of ,noncombat,
ants. @@
Break Is Threatened.
81 have deemed it my duty, therefore
to say to the imperial German govern
ment that If it is still its purpose ito
prosecute relentless and indiscrimn.
ate warfare against vessels of COM
MERGE by the use Of submarines, not
withstanding the now demonstrated
impossibility of conducting that war
fare in accordance with what the gov
eminent OF the United States must
consider the sacred and indisputable
rules of international law and the uni
VERBALLY recognized dictates of human
sity. the government of the United
States is at last forced to the conc,,-
sion that there is but one course it can
pursue; and that, Unless the imperial
German government should now i'm
donment of it's present methods of
warfare against passenger and freight
carrying vessels, this government can
have no choice but to sever diplomatic
relations with the government of the
German empire altogether
Regrets Necessity. 81
Z 'This decision have arrived at with
the keenest regret; the possibility of
the action contemplated | am sure all
thoughtful Americans will look for-
ward to with unaffected reluctance.
But we can not forget that we are in
some sort and by the force Of circum-
stances the responsible spokesman of
the rights Of humanity and that we
can not remain silent while those
rights seem in process Of being swept
utterly away in the maelstrom of this
terrible war. We owe it to due re
gard for our own rights as a nation, to
our sense of duty as a representative
Of the rights of neutrals the world
over and to just conception of The
rights of mankind to take this stand
now with the utmost, solemnity and
firmness.
81 have taken it, and taken it in the
confidence that it will meet with your
approval and support. All sober mind.
ed men must unite in hoping that the
imperial German government, which
has in other circumstances stood as
the champion Of all that we are now
contending for In the interest Of hui
manity, may recognize the justice OF
our demands and meet them in the
cDfrif IN which fhov ora made ("
't., Galleries Are Crowded.
Representatives Of the allied coun,
tries filled the diplomatic galleries OF
the house. Women ruled in the pub.
lie galleries, less than twenty men
finding places in the 600 seats. Mrs
Wilson was in the executive gallery
In the cabinet party we're Secre
taries Lansing, Baker, Houston and
Wilson, Attorney General Gregory and
Postmaster General Burleson.
The vice president and senators ar
rived at l2:5 50 and marched in double
file down the center aisle, members
Of the house rising and remaining
standing until they were seated.
- Loud Cheers for Wilson.
While the senators were taking
their seats, President Wilson reached
the capitol and waited in Speake,
Clark's office just outside the cham
Der. AS, the, president entered the
chamber just before / o'clock, sena
tors representatives, cabinet and gal
|leries arose An outburst Of applause
gave, way to loud cheering. During