Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-25

pean powers have announced their in-
tention of following In the future with
i regard to undersea warfare, seems for
| the moment to threaten insuperable
| obstacles but it's apparent meaning IS
so manifestly Inconsistent with ex-
plicit assurances recently given US by
| those powers with regard to their
| treatment Of merchant vessels on the
high seas, that must believe that ex-
| plantations will presently ensue which
| will put a different aspect upon It. We
have had no reason to question their
| good faith or their 5hdelity to their
promises in the past and for one feel
confident that we shall have none in
The future.
Our Duty 10 Clear.
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 principles which
all nations have agreed upon in mitiga-
i.tton OF the horrors and sufSeftngs.% of
Mar:: md ie The ltleaE .Etgh .Ana4r-
lean citizens should ever unhappiily BE
abridged OK denied by any sucih ~ ae tin, t;;5s
I'VE should, II seems to me, have III
honor no choice as to what our own
course should be.
Consents to No Abridasmsnt.
For my own part, can not consent
to any abridgmetlt OF the rights OF
American 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 vindicate them
would be. deep humiliation indeed.
1t would be an implicit. all but an
explicit acquiesence in the violation
of the rights Of mafikind everywhere
and OF whatever nation or alleg lance.
1t would be deliberate abdication Of
our hitherto proud position as spokes-
men even amidst the turmoil Of war
Tor the law and the right It would
make everything this government has
attempted and everything that It has
achieved during this terrible struggle
Of nations. meaningless and futile.
!, 1t Is important to reflect that IL In
this instance. we allowed expediencv
to take the place of principle, the. door
would inevitably be opened. to stffi
further concessions. Once accept q
single abatement of right and MANY
other humi,iations would certainlv
follow and the whole fne fabric ~
international law might crumble under
our hands. piece by piece. What we
are contending !, for in this matter. II
Of the very essence Of the things that
have made America sovereign ma !.
ton. She can not yield them without
conceding her own impotentcy. as 81
nation and making virtual surrender
OF her independent position . amonr
the nations Of the world. !. a q
I am speaking. my dear senator
IN deep solemnity without heat. wifi,
"a clear consciousness Of the high re !
~sponsibilities Of my Office, and az .vonr
sincere and devoted friend. IL -.
should .unhappily differ. We shall dif-
fer as friends; but where issues. %
momentous as these are involved, We
must. just because we are frien Il.
speak our minds without reservation
Faithfully yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
the president wrote his letter d,r-
ing Thursday afternoon, shutting h,rn :.
SELF up in his study wniie t;,,u.r.-
sional friends vainly attempted to 81
him on the telephone to tell hin, -
DEVELOPMENTS at the capitol and - -
arrange for the call 81 the house n
leaders, 'u'o 's