Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-16

Ex-Governor Simeon E. Baldwin has been interviewed by a representative of the Connecticut State Council of Defense and from him has been se- Connecticut War Interviews which the Council is making public through he newspapers. Ex- Governor Bald yin was asked for a statement that -ould answer the question Why are re fghting?"
 That is easily answered" said the former Governor. Congress has de- clared in plain terms why we are fighting. To Congress the people of Connecticut and of every other State Constitution of the United States, the ole right of declaring war. It is made
 legislative act, to be done only with he consent of both Houses and the Dproval of the President.
 "1t is customary for nations, in de- clarinS war, to state the reasons We stated the reasons for the Revolution ary War in the Declaration of Inde- pendence.
 At the World Peace Congress of substantially all civilized nations, held at The Hague in 1907 a treaty was signed on this subject. Later, in 1909. pire each ratified it, and it became the supreme law of this land. Article I reads thus:
 The contracting powers recognize that hostilities between themselves must not commence without previous and explicit warning, in the form either of a reasoned declaration of war or of an ultimatum with conditional decla- ration of war
 Germany has made no declaration of war against the United States The United States has made a declaration of war against Germany, and 1t is worded thus:
 " Joint resolution Declaring that a efc oT perial German Government and the Government and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same.
 Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America Therefore be it
 f Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress as sembled That the state of war be- tween the United States and the Im- perial German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be. and he is here by, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of against the Imperial German Govern ment; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all the re- sources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.
 |" CHAMP CLARK " Speaker of the House of Represent
 atives. z
 'THOS. R. MARSHAL Vice President of the United States
 and President of the Senate. Approved April 6. 1917.
 WOODROW WILSON,
 Here is our sailing chart. It Is of- flcial. It is clear. The United States is waging no war of aggression Germany has committed repeated acts of war against us. She has thus thrust war upon us. Therefore we teclare that state of war exists be- ween her and us.
 This is the declaration of the vholes people of the United States through their lawful representatives This is why we are fighting. Con- gress had the right to speak and it las spoken. Congress had the right define our position. and it has de- ned it.
 Tt is not our business to look any farther into the causes of the war. 'ongress has done that for us. Our one duty now is to turn to and do all we can to win the war"