New Britain herald., 1916-02-25

Wilson has picked up the gage of battle thrown down by the House of Representatives Last night, in a let ter ringing with determination, he made clear that he would go to war with Germany and Austria rather than surrender the inalienable rights of Amerlcan citizens to traverse the high seas.
 The president placed honor above eXpedlency, and showed that he was determined upon no hallway measures in dealing with the situation. That is his answer to those members of his party who were expected to call upon him today and endeavor to persuade him to yield to the clamor that international law be changed to the extent of telling American citizens that they have no right to travel on merchant ships armed for defense.
 Ihls ringing letter was written to Senator Stone, Chairman of the Com mlttee on Foreign Relations and giv- en to the press by the White House late III the evening. The president received a note from Senator Stone setting forth the critical aspect of affairs in congress with respect to the armed merchantmen question. Tn his response, phrased in sentences with thrill to them, the president placed national honor above political or any other expediency, and declar- ed that he intended to insist that the rights of Americans on the high seas be preserved without abrdigment
 War Before Dishonor.
 The presidents letter leaves no doubt that he would be willing to go to war with Germany and Austria to uphold that principle of internation- al law which makes the high seas free and assures safety for the lives of non- -combatants at the hands of the belligerents. He is willing to wage war with the House of Representa- tives, no matter what it's effect may be upon his political fortunes, as well with the Central Powers, if need be, no matter what it's effect may be up- on the future of the United States.
 But more important, the presidents letter to Senator Stone is virtually an ultimatum to the Governments of Germany and Austria that they must not carry out their armed merchant men order at the expense of the lives of American citizens If they do so the United States will join in the great
 
 from what the president tells the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
 Presidents Letter.
 The presidents letter follows:
 The White House,
 Washington, Feb. 24, 1916
 My Dear Senator-I very warmll appreciate your kind and frank letter of today and feel that it calls for an equally frank reply.
 You are right in assuming that I shall do everything in my power to keep the Unitel States out of war. I think the country will feel no un easiness about my course in that re- spect. Through many anxious months I have striven for that object, amidst difficulties more manifold than can have been apparent upon the surface, and so far l have succeeded. l do not doubt that 1 shall continue to succeed. The course which the Gen. tral European powers have announce ed their intentions of following in the future with regard to undersea war fare seems for the moment to threaten insupera ble obstacles, but it's apparent meaning is so manifestly ln- consistent with explicit assurances re- gently given up by those powers with regard to their treatment of merchant vessels on the high seas that must believe that explanations will present. lv ensue which will put a different asnect mon it. We have had no req son to question their good faith or their fidelity to their promises in the past and I for one feel confident that we shall have none in the future.
 Our Duty is Clear.
 But in any event our duty is clear No nation, no group of nations, has the right while war is in progress to alter or disregard the principles which all nations have agreed upon in mitl- gation of the horrors and sufferings of war; and if the clear rights of American citizens should ever un- happily be abridged or denied by any such action we should, it seems to me. have in honor no choice as to what our own course should be.
 For my part, I cannot consent to any abridgment of the rights of Amer ican citizens in any respect. The honor and self respect of the nation is involved. We covet peace, and shall preserve it at any cost but the loss of honor. To forbid our people to exercise their rights for fear we might be called upon to Vindlcate them would be a deep humiliation indeed. It would be an implicit, all but an explicit, acquiescence in the violation of the rights of mankind everywhere, and of whatever nation or allegiance. It would be a deliberate abdicatiOn Of our hitherto proud position as spokesmen, even amidst the turmoil of war, for the law and the right. It would make everything this gov ernment has attempted, and every thing that it has achieved during this terrible struggle of nations meaning less and futile.
 Principle First
 It is important to reflect that if in this inst Na allAANed exnedienc1