Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-25
Confident of Future.

we have had no reason to queS-
ton their good faith or their fidelity
to their premises in the past" ne
added. "and | for one feel conf
dent that we shall have none in the
future
The letter was in answer to one
written late this afternoon by SEN
ator stone outlining the situation. ex-
isting at the capitol where since YES
terday morning persistent demands
had been made for some action
which miFht lessen the possibility Of
war between the United states ami
. Germany.
The presidents statement will be
repeated tomorrow morning to Speak
er Clark, Representative kitchin ma
;ority leader and Representative
Flood. chairman of the house for
eign affairs committee who late to-
day asked for an engagement in order
, to explain the position in which tho
house found itself and ask the pres
ident for n statement Of the admin
istraton views
The letter follows.
"Fcbruary "a, i9lG--My Dear SEN
ator: I very warmly appreciate your
kind and frank letter OF today ana
feel that II calls for an equally frank
reply.
"You are right in assuming that
] shall do everything IN my power to
keep the United States out OF war.
think the country Will feel no un-
casiness about my course IN that re-
spect. Through many anxious months
| have strivcn for tIiat object, amidst
difficulties more manifold than can
Lave been APPARENT upon the surface
and so far have succeeded. | do
not doubt that | shall continue TO
! succeed. The course which the cen
! tral European powers have announced
| their intention of following In the
| future with regard to undersea war
fare seems for the moment to threaten
insuperable obstacles but its apparent
meaning is go manifestly inconsistent
with explicit assurances recently given
us by those powers with regard to
| their treatment of merchant vessels
On the high seas that | must believe
that explanations will presently ensue
which will put different aspect up
! ON it. We have had no reason TO
/ question their good faith or their
fidelity To their promises in the past
| and | for one feel confident that we
shall have none in the future.
| "But in any event our duty Is clear.
! No nation or group Of nations has
the right while the war is In progress
TO alter or disregard the power all
nations have agreed upon In mitiet-
ton of the horrors and suffcrings OF
war: and IL ihc clear rights OF Amer
ican citizens should ever unhappilN
f, Gc abridged or denied by any such
action. we should, II seems 20 me
/ have In honor no choice as t0 what
I our own course should be.
! For my own part | cannot con-
7 sent to any abridgement Of the rights
| of American citizens in any respect.
Tho honor and self-respect of the
nation IS involved. We covet peace
and preserve il at any cost but the
loss OF honor. To forbid our people
to exercise their rights for fear We
might be called upon to vindicaic
them would be a deep humiliation in
deed. II would be an explicit, all
bur an explicit aequiescence In IN"
| violation Of the rights Of mankind
everywhere and Of whatever nation
or allegiance 1t would be a delih-
crate abdication OF our hitherto
! proud position as spokesmen even
amid the turmoil 70 war for the
law and the night II would make
! everything this government has at
tempted and everything that il has
achieved during this terrible struggle
of nations meaningless and futile.
at is important TO reflect that II