Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-04-13

In ways which It has stirred as very
deeply to learn OF, but the ships and
people of other neutral and friendly
nations have been sunk and over
whelmed in the waters in the same
way. There has been no discrimina-
ton. The challenge is to all mankind.
Each nation must decide for itself
how It will meet II. The choice we
make for ourselves must be made With
a consideration Of counsel and a tenn
pe%rateness of Judgment BETTING our
character and our natives as q ma
ton.
We must put excited feeling away.
Our motive will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion of the physical
might Of the nation, but only the vim
dication Of right, Of human right, OF
which we are only a single champion.
When l addressed the Congress on
the twenty-sixth Of February last l
thought that It would suffice to as
sert our neutral rights with arms, our
right to use the seas against unlaw-
full interference, our right to keep our
people safe against unlawful violence.
But armed neutrality, Il now APP
pears, Is impractical. Because subma-
rines are in effect outlaws when used
as the German submarines have been
used against merchant shipping, it is
impossible to defend ships against
their attacks as the law of nations
has assumed that merchantmen would
defend themselves against p%rivateers
or cruisers, visible craft giving chase
upon the open e
It is common prudence In such cir
cumstances, grim necessity indeed, TO
endeavor to destroy them before they
have shown their own intention. They
dealt with at all.
| Armed Neutrality Proved Intellectual,
The German government denies the
right of neutrals to use arms at all
within the areas of the sea which II
has prescribed, even in the defense
of rights which, no modern publicist
has ever before questioned-their right
10 defend. The intimation is con
veyed that the armed guards which
we have placed on our merchant
ships will be treated as beyond the
pale oil law and subject to be deal
with as pirates would be.
EAAAEA ANakA ~ 10
at best: IN such circumstances ant
in the face of such pretensions 1t il
worse than Intellectual; it is likely
to produce what It vas meant
to prevent; 1t is practically certain
to draw us into the war without
either the rights or the effectiveness
of belligerents.
There is one choice we cannot make
we are incapable of making. We will
not choose the path of submission
and suffer the most sacred rights o.
our nation and our people to be ig
nored OF violated. The wrongs against
which we now array ourselves are no
common wrongs; they cut to the very
roots of human life.
With a profound Of the sci
emn and even tragical character o.
the step l am taking and of the grave
responsibilities which it involves, bui
in unhesitating obedience to what
deem my constitutional duty, l advise
that the Congress declare the recen
course of the German government t
be in fact nothing less than wa
against the government and people o
the United States; that it formally
accept the status of belligerent which
has thus been thrust upon it, and tina
it take immediate steps not only t
put the country on a more thorough
state of defense, but also to exert all III
power and employ all its resources t
bring the government of the German
empire to terms and end the war.
Advises Cooperation With Allies.
What this will involve is clear. |
will involve the utmost practicable CO
operation in counsel and action will
the governments now at war with Ger
many, and, as incident to that, the eX
tension to those governments of tn,
most liberal financial credits, in orde
that our resources may, so far Is pos
sible, be added to theirs.
1t will involve the organization ant
mobilization of all the material re
sources of the country to supply tn,
materials of war and serve the inc
dental needs of the nation in the mos
abundant, and yet the most economi
cal and efficient way possible.
It will involve the immediate full
equipment Of the navy in all respects
but particularly in supplying it wit.
the best mean of dealing with the en-
emy's submarines.
II will involve the immediate add
tion to the armed forces of the Unite
States already provided for by law 4
case of war, at least 100000 men, VIII
should, in my opinion, be chosen upOt
the principle of universal liability {
service, and also the authorization @
subsequent additional increments @
equal force so Don as they may b
needed and can be handled in traiI
ing.
1t will involve, of course, the gran.
ing of adequate credits to the govern
ments. sustained, l hope. so far as the
! Ian equitably be sustained, by tn
present generation, by well-conceive
taxation. [ say sustained so far a
may be equitable by taxation becaus
it seems to me chat 1t would be mos
unwise to base the credits which wi
! now be necessary entirely on none
: borrowed.
4 II Is our duty, / most respectful
urge, to protect our people so far a
we may against the very serious hart
ships and evils which would be likel
to arise Olt of the initiation whfc