The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-11-17
WHY WE ARE AT WAR.
Clear Summary of Causes Compelling
Our Break with Germany.

Our Break with Germany.
In statement prepared by Secre-
tary of the Treasury VIM. g. McAdoo
during the progress of the gloriously
successful campaign for the second
Liberty Loan, the following powerful
array of facts was presented, which
must carry home to every intelligent
and loyal American the conviction
that the United States was not only
fully justified in entering the world
war against faithless and ruthless
Germany, but that our country could
not in decency, honor and humanity
keep out of the conflict:
perhaps it is important that the
reasons why we are at war with Ger
many should be restated as often as
possible There are some noisy agita-
tors and disloyal writers in this coun-
try who have persistently endeavored
to confuse the issue and to carry on
seditious and subtle propaganda for
the purpose of producing discomfort
among the people and giving aid and
encouragement to the enemies of the
United States. A large part of this
propaganda was undoubtedly financed
9. the German government directly,
from the outbreak of the European
war, All ugust, 1914, until America en-
tered the war, April 6, 1917. Much
of this same propaganda has probably
been carried forward since America
entered the war by German money
left in the United States for that pur
pose by VonBernstorff, the adroit and
malevolent German ambassador, be-
fore he was dismissed. With that
money and with money provided by
German sympathizers and certain dis
loyal elements in the United States
the propaganda has continued, but in
a modified form. It would be difficult
to ascertain exactly how much money
has been expended for this purpose,
but some of the recent disclosures by
the state department indicate how
active were Germany's own represent
atives while in this country. 1t is well
for the American people to realize the
hypocrisy and disloyalty of all these
efforts, and to determine to stamp
them out relentlessly and remorseless-
ly, because the interests Of the nation
must at no time be imperiled more by
CnG tTdlIOES WlbllAl SAA T8aAS SAAe@AA ~
the enemies without.
sIt has been repeatedly stated that
America entered this war to make
| liberty and democracy secure through
out the world. While that is true, it
must always be remembered that
| America entered the war for more
immediate reason. Noble and ideal
istic as is her championship OF uni
versal democracy, she entered this
war primarily because Of the persist
ent insults and aggression OF Ger
many, the Wanton disregard of Amer
/ lean rights within our own borders as
well as upon the high seas, the con.
| temptuous violation of international
law and the ruthless destruction OF
American life and property.
Germany has destroyed merchant
vessels on the high seas without warn
ing. killing noncombatant men, wo-
men. and children without mercy and
in the most brutal and ruthless fash
ion. in defiance of all international
law and every accepted rule Of hu-
manity and civilization.
"But this is not all. Germany,
while protesting friendship for Amer
| lea. and while her ambassador, her
representatives, and her citizens were
/ enjoying our hospitality and receiving
| our protection, was plotting against
the domestic security of the United
Estates by blowing up munitions plants,
/ fomenting strikes and disturbances in
the labor world, disseminating false
information and poisoning the MINDS
of the American people against tner
own government, plotting It's DOWN
1 fall, and seeking to influence our con-
gress, as evidenced by Won Bern
storf's dispatch of January 22, 1917,
to the Berlin foreign Office, in which
he said: I request authority to pay
up to $4,000 in order, as on former
1 occasions. to influence congress
through the organization you know
Of, which can perhaps prevent war.
And while Won BernstorH was busy
upon our own shores with intrigue
throughs,his spy system and through
the cA4rupt use of money to influence
~-~,ac opinion and the national poll
cies of the American people, Zlmmer-
: mann, the foreign secretary In Berlin
; had sent dispatch to Mexico urging
, her to make war upon the United
States and begging Mexico to invite
Japan to join her in this dastardly
work, promising Mexico that Cali
, fornia, Arizona, New Mexico, anc
; Texas would be restored to Mexico
! in the event of success. What mor'
perfdious conduct could have char
acterized the government of any na
:, tion with which we were at peace
WHAT must be the judgment upon
: government capable of such IN
= fanies? And yet there are those VIII
), undertake to defend Germany and t
q say that the American people did no
9 have sufficient grounds upon whic
to enter this war"
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