The Yale expositor., 1917-04-12
German Pledges Broken.

man government has followed an
other
German Pledges Broken.
Senator Hitchcock was followed by
Senator Swanson of Virginia, who said
the German government has repeat
eddy and grossly violated its treaty OBJ
legations to us, and wantonly broken
solemn assurances"
"The issue is not peace or war;" Sen
ator Swanson continued "War has al
ready been declared upon us. The Is
sue is whether we shall accept war or
AFFECT and cowardly submission"
Reciting the sinking of American
ships, German plots, and outrages In
this country, Senator Swanson said the
Zimmerman plot to incite Mexico
against this country reaches the low
est depths of national turpitude."
1--WE have long suspected a DISPOSE
ton by Germany to dispute the Monroe
doctrine" he added. "NOw is the time
to teach this misunderstanding German
government that our territorial sover-
eighty cannot be made a subject of war
bargaining.
What else can Germany do to woge
war against us? When the war-made
autocracy that now rules Germany has
been chastened or overthrow, ties of
friendship now severed will be reunit-
ed"
Many other senator's took part in the
debate, GrOnna, Stone, Vardaman,
Norris and LaFollette, all opposing the
resolution.
Senator SmOot made the last speech
"a short prayer that God would
"hasten the day when liberty will be
enjoyed by all the peoples of the
earth.'
The roll call was taken while the
senator's and spectators sat solemn. A
few cheers greeted the result and then
all filed quietly out of the chamber.
House Vote, 373 to so.
The house, after a, debate lasting
about seventeen hours, adopted the
joint resolution by vote of 373 to so.
Nearly hundred representatives made
speeches.
in offering the senate resolution as
q substitute for Its own, the house for
eign affairs committee submitted a
long report reviewing the history Of
submarine warfare and Americas fu-
tile protests against it, German in
trigues and bomb plots in this country,
the effort to ally Japan and Mexico
against the United States and the mis-
treatment Of American officials and
citizens in Germany.
'It is with the deepest sense Of re-
sponsibility for the momentous results
which will follow the passage Of this
resolution" said the report, that your
committee reports II to the house, with
the recommendation that II be passed.
1.-THE conduct Of the imperial Ger
man government toward this govern
ment its citizens and Its interests, has
been so discourteous. unjust, cruel.
barbarous. and so lacking in honesty
and practice that II has constituted a
violation of the course of conduct
which should obtain between friendly
nations.
"In addition to this the German gov
eminent is actually making war upon
the people and commerce of this coun-
try. and leaves no course open to this
government but to accept Its gage OF
battle and declare that state of war
exists"
Flood Opens the Debate.
Under the unanimous consent rule
by which the resolution was considered
Representative Flood could move the
previous question at any time after one
hour and. II sustained. bring the meas
ure to vote He was disposed. how
ever, to give members every opportu-
nifty to speak throughout the day. The
debate began without any limitation.
"war is being made upon our coun-
try and Its people," Representative
Flood said In opening. "Our ships are
being sunk. Our noncombatant clti-
zens, including men, women and chy-
dren. are being murdered. our mer-
chantmen are denied the freedom of
the sens. There is no choice as to our
course. We are compelled by the acts
Of the German government to enter In
TO this most COLOSSAL war.
"The time for argument has passed
the time for heroic action Is here, and
our people will rally to the support of
their government In this high and pa
triotic hour and meet wars sacrifices
and wars perils as brave and patrl-
otto people should.
'We should take our stand by the
side of the allied nations who have
been fighting humanity's battles for
two and one-half years. determined
that our power shall be so employed
that compete victory shall crown their
efforts and that Prussian mIlitarism
shall be crushed and the world shall be
delivered from the threat and danger
Of the Hohenzollern dynasty"