The L'Anse sentinel., 1916-03-04
DUETS TALK Of WAR;
PRESIDENT WILSON WINS CLASH
WITH CONGRESS ON WARN
ING RESOLUTION.
INSISTS ON FREEDOM OF SEA
Refuses to AcquIesee In measure Put
ting stain on American Honor" In
Sea crIsIs--situatIon With Germany
Improved.

Washington, Feb. rs. = President
Wilson has triumphed for the present
at least over the panic-stricken Demo
Gratis In congress. who. fearful OF war
with Germany, desired to pass bill
forbidding American travel on bel
ligerent armed merchantmen.
"No." said the president on Thurs
day through gritted teeth, II shall not
acquiesce in q measure which contem-
plates putting stain on American
honor and surrendering American
rights shall continue to insist that
those rights be maintained in their full
integrity"
To quiet the nerves set a.quivering
by the bogie man, Secretary Lansing
telephoned Congressman Flood, chair
man of the house foreign affairs COM
mittee. that the situation with Ger
many was easier.
Here Is the text of President Will
sons letter to Senator Stone touching
on the relations of the United States
with the Teutonic allies as concerns
the rights Of citizens Of neutral ma
tions on the high seas:
"The White House, Washington.
Feb. "a, 1916.-My Dear Senator: l
very warmly appreciate your kind and
frank letter Of today. and feel that 1t
calls for an equally frank reply.
"You are right In assuming that l
shall do everything n my power to
keep the United States out Of war. l
think the country will feel no uneasi-
ness about my course in that respect.
Through many anxious months l have
striven for that object, amidst difficult
ties more manifold than can have been
apparent upon the surface, and so far
have succeeded. do not doubt that
l shall continue to succeed.
THE course which the central Euro.
pean powers have announced their in
tention of following in the future with
regard to undersea warfare seems for
the moment to threaten insuperable
obstacles. but Its apparent meaning is
80 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 different aspect upon 1t. We
have no reason to question their good
faith or their fidelity to their promises
In the past, and !, for one. feel conf
dent that we shall have none in the
future.
But in any event our duty is clear
No nation, no group OF nations, ha,
the right while war is In progress t
alter or disregard the principles which
all nations have agreed upon in miti
cation of the horrors and sufferings o
war; and II the clear rights OF Ameri
can citizens should ever unhappily b,
abridged or denied by any such actor
we should. II seems to me. have IL
honor no choice as to what our owl
course should be.
For my own part, cannot consen
to any abridgement of the rights O
American citizens in any respect TIL,
honor and self-respect of the nation /.
ifvolved. We covet peace and shall
preserve 1t at any cost but the loss O
honor To forbid our people to exer
cise their rights for fear we might b,
called upon TO vindicate them woul,
be deep humiliation indeed. I
would be an implicit. all but an ex
plicit. acquiescence in the violation o
the rights Of mankind everywher,
and OF whatever nation or allegiance
1T would be a deliberate abdicatiol
OF our hitherto proud position a
spokesman even amidst the turmoil o
war, for the law and the right. I
would make everything this govern
ment has attempted and everything
that II has achieved during this tel
rible struggle OF nations meaningless
and futile.
What we are contending for in thi
matter is OF the very essence OF tn
thinsS. that have made America sov
ereigh hation. She cannot .iel1 then
without conceding her own impotenc,
as a..nation and making virtual SUI
rCrder OF her independent position
among the nations of the world.
Il am speaking, my dear senator, Il
deep solemnity, without heat, with
clear consciousness OF the high re
sronsibilities OF my Office and as you
sincere and devoted friend. II W
should unhaprily differ we shall diffe
as friends: but where issues 80 me
mcntous as these are involved w
NEST, Just because. we are friends
speak our minds without reserve
tion. Faithfully yours.
. WOODROW WILSON.
"Ilon. William J. Stone, United State
Senate"