Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

Congress declare the recent course OF
the German government to be, in fact.
nothing less than war against the gov
eminent of the United States; that 1t
ent which has thus been thrust upon
1t. and that 1t take immediate steps.
not only to put the country In more
thorough state of defense. but also to
resources to bring the government of
the German empire to terms and end
the war"
The President in asking the Congress
to declare that a state of war existed
between the United States and the Ger
man government made a keen distinc-
ton which placed the blame where 1t
Justly belonged and announced to the
world that the barbarous submarine
warfare Germany proclaimed in Feb
ruary last must cease.
In the war of 1912 1t was for a time
a question whether America would go
to war with Great Britain or France.
Both were heaping indignities upon
the young republic and running rough
shod over the rights of American COM
merce. President Madison and his Sec
rotary of State, James Monroe. later
fifth President of the United States.
lent ear to the promises OF Napoleon.
and the scales of war tipped to Great
Britain. The elections of 1910 had
brought into Congress many members
who were strongly in favor of war
with England in defense of American
commerce.
Madison did not ask for a declaration
that a state of war existed. but related
the facts of the empressment of Amerf-
can seamen. the embarrassing predica-
tn n rhf try
and left II to Congress to act. In his
special message to Congress June l.
1912, President Madison. after calling
the attention of Congress to the rights
and dignity Of the states being tram
pied upon. referred to the state of war
existing when he said: I'VE behold, In
fine. on the side of Great Britain
state of war against the United States.
and on the side of the United States
state of peace toward Great Britain.
whether the United States shall con-
tinue passive under these progressive
usurpations and their accommodating
wrongs. or. opposing force to force in
defense of their national rights. shall
commit 1. just cause into the hands of
the Almighty Dispenser of Events.
avoiding all connections which might
entangle IT in the contest views of
other powers, and preserving con-
slant readiness to concur in an honora-
BILE re-estabiishment of peace and
friendship. is a solemn question, which
Inc constitution wisely cOnuueS TO inc
legislative department of the govern
ment.
I'm recommending it to their early de-
alterations, l am happy in the assur-
ance that the decision will be worthy
of the enlightened and patriotic eoun-
ellis of virtuous, a free and power
full nation"
The House, on June 10, passed. in
secret session, the war bill by a vote
of 10 to 49, and the Senate concurred
by a majority vote Of one or two. The
bill began: Whereas war in fact now
exists between Great Britain and tho
that the President of the United States
be- and he is hereby. authorized to carry
on the same with the forces of the ma
ton both by sea and land and to grant
letters OF marque and reprisal.'
This measure established precedent
for future declarations, the spirit of
which has been adhered to ever since
Congress called this war measure AN
act declaring war between Great Brit
United States and their territories"
However 1t may have been a declara-
ton against Great Britain In spirit. 1t
was not in letter.
Woodrow Wilson, in his History of
the American People," says Of the war
OF 1872: 'Mr. Madison loved peace as
Mr.. Jefferson did. and was willing to
secure it by any slow process Of law or
negotiation that promised to keep war
at arms length. But he presently found
himself caught in the tangled network