Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-04-26

Killing of Noneombatants De-
nognced as "Wanton"
House of Representatives. the Cap
itol. Washington. April 20.-Sharply
fndicting Germany for it's use of sub
marines against merchant vessels.
President Wilson yesterday, before a
joint session of congress, issued pub
lie notice to the world that unless that
government changes its methods the
United States win have no choice
but to sever diplomatic relations.
The history in the making" was
witnessed by one of the largest gath
erings that has ever been damned into
the historic chamber Of the house of
represel- tatives. Every single inch
Of available space was occupied, while
literally thousands were turned away
There was no questioning the seri-
BUSINESS Of the presidents position.
His voice, somewhat husky, penetrated
ever corner OF the room, and the
message was emphasized with an ex-
preston that showed it's author was
fearful OF the outcome That serious
ness was shared by the audience, the
usual applause given the presidents
uttefances being absent
The message in every sense was an
ultimatum. True it contained no time
limit within which reply must be made.
But it fatty insisted that the German
submarine warfare has reached the
stage when this government will no
longer tolerate it.
The German explanations. previous
ly made, have been accepted in good
faith. the president said in the hope
that that government would finally
be able TO so order and control the acts
OF its naval commanders as to square
its policy with the position OF human
fly as embodied in the law OF ma
tons"
The United States has been willing
10 wait, the president said. until the
significance Of the fact became abso-
lutely unmistakabIe and susceptible
of but one Interpretation That point.
he said. has now unhappily been
reached
Text Of Presidents Address.
Following is the complete text OF
the presidents address.
Gentlemen OF the Congress: A stu
alton has arisen in the foreign rela-
tions of tie country of which IL is nv
plain duty 10 inform you very frankly.
1T will be recalled that in Febru-
airy, 1915, the imperial German govern
ment announced it's intention to treat
the waters surrounding Great Britain
and Ireland as embraced within the
seat Of war and TO destroy all mer-
chant ships owned by It's enemies that
might be found within any part OF
that portion of the high seas. and that
It warned all vessels. of neutral as
well as OF belligerent ownership, to
keep out OF the waters It had thus
prescribed. or else enter them at their
peril The government of the United
States earnestly protested. It took
the position that such a policy could
not be pursued without the practical
certainty OF gross and palpable viola
fions of the law of nations. particular
ly If submarine craft we're to be EN-.
ployed a. its instruments, inasmucb as
the rules prescribed by that law. rules
founded upon principles OF humanity
and established for the protection of
the lives of nc::cJmbStants at sea
could not in me nature Of the case be
observed Wy such vessels 1t based
its protest on the ground that persons
OF neural nationality and vessels OF
neutral ownership would be exposed
to extreme and irtolerable risks, and
that no right 10 close any part OF the
high seas against their use or to ex-
pose them to such risks could lawfully
be asserted by any belligerent govern
mem. The law of nations in these
matters, upon which the government
OF tie United States based its protest
is not OF recent origin or founded upon
merely arbitrary principles set up by
invention. It is based. on the con
rary. upon manifest and imperative
principles of humanity and has long
been established with the approval
and by the express assent OF all civil.
Hzed nations
Protest Was Olsreearded.
notwithstanding the earnest pro
test Of our government, the imperial
German government at once proceeded
to carry out the policy It has an.
nounced. 1t expressed the hope that
the dangers involved at any rate the
dangers TO neutral vessels. would be
reduced to a minimum by the instruc.
tons which It had issued to its subma.
rine commanders. and assured the gov.
eminent OF the United States that il
would take every possible precautior
both to respect the rights of neutrals
and to safeguard the lives of noncom
batEnts
WHAT has actually happened in the
year which has since elapsed has
shown that those hopes we're not justi
fed. those assurances insusceptible OF
being fulfilled. In pursuance of the