Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-03-03
QU|ETS TALK OF WAR
PRESIDENT WILSON WINS CLASH
WITH CONGRESS ON WARM
ING RESOLUTION.
INSISTS ON FREEDOM OF SEA
Refuses 10 AequIesee In Measure Put
ting Stain on American Honor" In
Sea crisIs-situatlon With Germany
Improved.

Washington. Feb. 26. = President
Wnson has triumphed for the present
n least over the panic-stricken Demo
Gratis In congress, who. fearful of war
win Germany, desired to pass a Dill
furbidding American travel on bel
Mgnrent armed merchantmen.
NO" said the president on Thurs.
mAy through gritted teeth. Il shall not
nruuiesce in measure which contem-
plates putting q stain on American
honor and surrendering American
riEhta I shall continue to insist that
those rights be maintained In theirful
slntegrity.-
To quiet the nerves set a-quivering
~ the boyle man, Secretary Lansing
tnlephoned Congressman Flood. chair
man of the house foreign affairs com
rniftee. that the situation with Ger
many was easier.
Hors IN the text OF President Will
sons letter to Senator Stone touching
On the relations of the United States
VITA the Teutonic allies as concerns
ne rights OF citizens OF neutral ma
tons on the high seas:
The White House, Washington.
Pea "a 1s1s.-My Dear Senator: /
vrry warmly appreciate your kind and
frank letter OF today. and feel that 1t
enils for an equally frank reply.
foa ara right In assuming that |
shall do everything n my power to
Keep the United States out of war. |
think the country will feel no unessi-
ness about my course In that respect.
Through many anxious months | have
maxiven for that object, amidst difficult
finn more manifold than can have been
Hpparant upon the surface. and so far
A have succeeded. do not doubt that
Ashaii continue to succeed.
The course which the central Euro
Dean powers have announced their in
fsntion OF following in the future with
regard TO undersea warfare seems for
xhe moment to threaten insuperable
ohstncles. but it's apparent meaning is
- manifestly inconsistent with ex-
paieit assurances recently given US by
fh0ss powers with regard to their
treatment OF merchant vessels on the
high seas that must believe that ex-
plantations viii presently ensue which
win put different aspect upon 1t. We
h9yo no reason to question their good
faith or their fidelity to their promises
IN the past. and 1, for one, feel conf
nnnt that we shall have none in the
fufnrn-
But In any event our duty is clear.
NO nation. no group Of nations. mas
-ths right while war is in progress to
alter or disregard the principles which
al nations have agreed upon in miti-
Eation Of the horrors and sufferings of
war and IL the clear rights of Ameri-
nan citizens should ever unhappily be
abridged or denied by any such action
wo should. II seems to me, have in
hnnow M choice as to what our own
fnDnrse should be. =
For my own part. cannot consent
20 any abridgement OF the rights of
Amarican citizens in any respect. The
hunor and seif-respect OF the nation is
Fvsived. We covet peace and shall
Brnssrve II at any cost but the loss of
hnn1r. To forbid our people to .ser-
rirs their rights for fear we might be
called upon to vindicate them would
bB . deep humiliation indeed. It
nMuuld be an implicit, all but an ex-
plIcit. acquiescence in the violation OF
the rights OF mankind everywhere
and Of whatever nation or allegiance.
II would be a deliberate abdication
'of our hitherto proud position as
spokesman even amidst the turmoil OF
war. for the law and the right. II
lwuuld make everything this govern
ment has attempted and everything
that Il has achieved during this ter
,rfhis struggle Of nations meaningless
and futile.
What we are contending for in this
matter is OF the very essence of the
things that have made America a SOW
srsSsn nation She cannot iei1 then
without conceding her own impotence
,ae a nation and making virtual sur
wNrder OF her independent position
among the nations Of the world.
L am speaking. my dear senator. il
deep solemnity. without heat. with
clear consciousness of the high re
sp0nsibiIfties Of my Office and as you
EfBesre and devoted friend. II W
should unhaprily differ we shall diffe
rs friends: but where issues so me
muntous as these are involved W
mcst. Just because we are friends
speak our minds without reservs
tion- Faithfully yours.
WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. William ]. Stone. United State
Senate"