The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-29
STANDS FOR Law
WITHOUT CHANGE
WILSON MAKES CLEAR
POSITION ON SUBJECT
PRESIDENT TELLS CONGRESS
AMERICA MUST BE READY
TO UPHOLD HER RULES

Americans off armed merchant vessels,
wrote letter tonight to Senator Stone,
chairman of the senate foreign reIa-
tions committee, stating that he could
not consent to the abridgement OF the
rights of American citizens in any re-
spect
"The honor and self-respect of the
nation is involved" he said. I'VE covet
peace and shall preserve it at any cost
but the loss of honor"
The president expressed hope that ex-
planation of the declared intention OF
the central powers to sink armed mef-
chant ships without warning would put
a ifferentd aspect on situation when
now seemed to presnt insuperable obsta-
cles. I'VE have had no reason to question
their good faith or their fidelity to their
promises in the past" he added, "and
for one feel confident that we shall
have none in the future"
The letter was in answer to one Wrlt-
ten late this afternoon by Senator
Stone outlining the situation existing
at the capitol, where since yesterday
morning persistent demand has been
made for some action which might les
sen the possibility OF war between the
limited States and Germany. The presl-
dents statement will be repeated to-
morrow morning to Speaker Clark, Rep
resentative Kitchin, majority leader, ana
Peoresentatiye Flood, chairman OF the
house foreign affairs committee, VINO
late today asked for an engagement IN
order to explain the position IN winch
the house finds itself and asked the
president for statement OF the ad-
ministration's views.
The letter follows;
'My Dear Senator:
u very warmly appreciate your kind
and frank letter OF today ana 1ee4 I4iet
It calls for an equally frank reply
ssYou are right in assuming that l
shall do el1ytling, in my power to keep
the United States out of the war. l
think the country will feel no uneasi-
ness about my course in that respect
Through many anxious months 1 have
striven for that object, amidst difficult
+;es more manifold than can have been
apparent upon the surface; and so lar
have succeeded. I do not doubt that l
shall continue to succeed. The course.
which the central European powers
have announced their intention OF tol-
lowing in the future with regard to ur-
dersea warfare seems for the moment
to threaten insuperable obstacles, Dur
ats apparent nearing is so manltestly IN
consistent with explicit assurances re-
Gently given by those powers with re-
GARD TO their treatment of merchant yes
sells on the high seas that 1 must be-
beve that explanations viii presently en-
spe which WI! put different aspect on
il We have no reason to question their
good faith or their fidelity to their
promises in the past, and l, for one, teel
confident that we shall have none IN
the future.
But in any evnt 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 mltl-
cation of the horrors and sufferlngs OF
war; and if the clear rights of Ameri-
can citizens should ever unhapplly be
abridged or denied by any such action
we should, it seems to me, have IN hon
or no choice as to what our own course
should be,
For my own part, can not consent
to any abridgcment of the rights OF
American citizens IN any respect IN
honor and self-respect of the nation IS
involved. We covet peace and shall pre-
serve it at any cost but the loss OF honor.
ITO forbid our people to exercise thelr
rights for fear we might be called upon
TO vindicate them would be deep hu-
initiation, indeed. II would be an I'M
plcit, all but explicit, acquiescence IN
the violation of the rights OF mankind
everywhere and cf whatevr nation or al
1egiance. 1t would be deliberate aD-
dication of our hitherto proud position
as spokesman, even amidst the tuF1"03l ~.
Of war, for the law and the right II II
w3uld make ever. thing this is government IT
has attempted and everything that 1t
has achieved during this terrible strug-
ole Of nations meaningless and futile.