The Twin City star., 1917-11-10
oentlsmen Of the congress:

have called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious. very serious, choices Of policy to
20 made. and made Immediately. which
- neither right nor constitutionally
Dsrmissible that should assume the re-
Dponsibility Of making.
tOn the Sd OF February last officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncsment OF the Imperial German
government that on and after the 1st
day Of February 1t was Its purpose to
put aside all restraints Of law or Of hu-
manity and use its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports Of Great Britain and
Ireland or the western coasts Of Europe
or any OF the ports controlled by the
ensmies OF Germany within the Medi-
eerranean. That had seemed to be the
object Of the German submarine war
fare earlier In the war, but since April
Of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders Of its undersea craft. in conform
lty with It's promise. then given to us,
that passenger boats should not be
sunk, and that due warning would be
0lvsA to all other vessels which Its
submarines might seek to destroy,
when NO resistance was offered or es-
eaps attempted, and care taken that
their crews were given at least a fair
beats. The precautions taken were
asager and haphaxard enough, M was
Droved In distressing instance after
instance In the progress of the cruel
and unmanly business, but q certain de-
gree Of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels Of every kind.
their cargo, their destination, their
srrand, have been ruthlessly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought Of help or mercy for those
on board, the vessels of friendly neu-
trails along with those of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief to the sOrely bereaved and strick-
en-. people Of BelEium, though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas; by the
German government itself and were
aistinguished by unmistakable marks
of slentity, have been sunk with the
Same reckless lack OF compassion or
Of principle
i was for q little. while unable to
believe that such things would In fact
be done BY any government that had
Aitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
aational law had its origin In the at
tempt to- set mp some law which would
he respected and. observed upon the
seas, Nvhsrs no nation Had right of
6ominion and where Lay the free high
ways Of the world. BY painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
With meager enough results. indeed,
after all was, accomplished that could
be accomplished. but always with a
clear view, ut least, Of what the heart
md c0nscience Of mankind demanded.
This minimum Of right the German
government has swept aside under the
pl~a Of retaliation and necessity and
because It had no weapons which 1T
Il 10 impossible to employ as 1t Is en-
ploying them, without throwing to. the
wind all scruples Of humanity or OF
respect for the understandings that
we're supposed to underlie the inter
course Of the world
anInot NOW thinl<ipg ofythe loss OF
property fnvofveds immense and serious
a. that is.- but only OF the wanton and
wholesale destruction OF the lives OF
NON 4 Sombatants. men, women, ana chff'
dren; engaged I'm pursuits which have
always, even In the darkest periods 81
nodern history, been deemed innocent
snd legitimate. Property can be paid
for, the lives Of peaceful and innocent
peopIe cannot be. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
II q warfare against mankind nws
It Is a war asaanst, all natiop2 Aver
lean ships have neeA ssnk, AnsricAn
kfves taken, In ways which 1t has
stirred us very deeply 10 learn Of, but
the ships nad people Of other neutral
ana xriendly natioas have heen sunk
snl overwheImea2in1th ths3 waters ia ctha
sams way. There has been NO dis,
SRlmination. .SEH9 -,Iu
ne challenge II 70 all mankind
zach nation must decide for itself how
it- will mset it, The choice we -maks
for ourselves must be made with Q
moderation Of counsel and, O. temper.
aAsness Of Judgment befittingS oui
character and our motives as nation
I'VE must put excited feelings AWAY
Our motive will not be revenge or thu
victorious assertion Of the physical
might Of the nation. but only the Win.
dication of. right. Of human right o.
which we afe only a, single chnmptop.,
When I Addressed the congress ~oi
the asth of February last thought i
would suffice to assertionr neutralright.
with arms. our right to Snse the sea-
against unlayfpl Aaterfersnce our yiEh
TO keen our pe6pis safe against uniaw.
fsl violence. But armed neutrality. 4
nsE appssssi A srnDrscticable. Because