Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-04-19

NNHiQNNA va ota oN'tNh b
rights aside In pursuit OF Ito immo-
diate objects,
"The government OF the United
States has been very patient, At ev-
cry stage OF this distressing expert
ence OF tragedy after tragedy In
which Its own citizens were involved
II has sought to be restrained from
any extreme course OF action or OF
protest by a thoughtful oonsidera-
ton OF the extraordinary circum-
stances Of this unprecedented war
and actuated In all that II said or did
by the sentiments OF genuine friend
ship which the people OF the United
States have always entertained and
continue to entertain toward the Ger
man nation.
at has, OF course. accepted the
successive explanations and assur-
ances OF the imperial German govern
ment as given In entire sincerity and
good faith. and has hoped, even
against hone. that Il would prove to
be possible for the German govern
ment so TO order and control
the acts OF its naval commanders as
to square It's policy with tho prin-
ciples OF humanity as embodied In tho
laws of nations II has been willing
TO walt until the significance OF the
acts became absolutely unmistakable
and susceptible OF but one mterprc-
tation.
THAT point has now unhappily
been reached, The facts are suscep-
tible of but one Interpretation The
imperial German government has
been unable to put any limits or re-
straints upon It's warfare against
either freight or passenger ships, II
has therefore become painfully evil
dent that the position which this gov
ernment took at the very outset Is
inevitable. namely. that tho use OF
submarines for the destruction of an
enemy's commerce Ia OF necessity. be-
cause OF the very character OF the
vessels employed and the very meth
DDS OF attack which their employ
ment OF course involves, incompatible
with the principles OF humanity, the
| long established and incontrovertible
rights Of neutrals and the sacred i'm
munities OF noncombatants,
II have deemed II my duty, there-
fore. to say to the imperial German
government that II It is still It's pur-
pose to prosecute relentless and In
discriminate warfare against vessels
OF commerce by the use OF submar-
ines. Notwithstanding the now dem
onstrated impossibility OF conducting
that warfare in accordance with what
the government of the United States
must consider the sacred and lEdis-
putable rules OF international law and
the universally recognized dictates OF
humanity, the government OF the
United States is at last forced to the
conclusion that there is but one
course II can pursue; and that unless
the imperial German government
should now Immediately declare and
effect an abandonment Of Its present
methods OF warfare against passenger
and freight vessels. this government
can have no choice but sever diplo-
matte relations with the government
OF the German empire altogether
This decision ! have arrived al
with the keenest regret; the posi-
bility OF the action contemplated.
am sure, all thoughtful Americans
will look forward to with unaffected
reluctance But we can not forge'
! that we are In some sort and by the
force OF circumstances the responsible
} spokesman OF the rights OF humanit,
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. W.
owe II to due regard for our owr
rights as a nation, to our sense o.
duty as a representative OF the right
OF neutrals the world over, and to
Just conception OF the rights Of man
! kind to take this stand now with th'
, utmost solemnity and frmness.
"I have taken II, and taken II II
) the confidence that II will meet you
} approval and support. All sober
, minded men must unite in hopinl
! that the imperial German govern
ment which has, In other circun
, stances, stood as the champion Of al
+ we are now contending for in the In
. terest OF humanity, may recogniz
! 1.-THE Justice OF our" demands and NEE
them in the spirit in which they ar
. made" '"''
= The president was grave and earn
est as he spoke. Members Of con
gress and those In the crowded gal
I. leries scarcely stirred until he ha'
: finished. No applause interrupte