The Tupelo journal., 1917-08-24

~ 6ASSA ti0t Why W sAS <A1A(c 00b
to liberal peoples throughout the
world the conviction that this me-
mace to human liberties everywhere
must be utterly shorn Of its power
for harm.
For the evil it has effected has
ranged far out of Europe-out upon
the open seas, where it's submarines
in defiance Of law and the concepts
Of humanity have blown up neutral
vessels and covered the waves with
the dead and the dying, men and wo-
men and children alike. It's agents
have conspired against the peace of
neutral nations everywhere, sowing
the seeds of d~issension, ceaselessly
endeavoring by tortuous methods of
deceit, Of bribery, false promise, and
intimidation, to stir up brother ma
tions one against the other, in order
that the liberal world might not be
able to unite, inorder that the Au-
tocracy might emerge triumphant
from the war.
All this we know from our own ex-
perience with the Imperial Govern
ment. AS they have dealt with Eu-
rope, SO they have dealt with US and
with all mankind. And SO out of
these years the conviction has grown
that until the German Nation is d.
vested of such rulers democracy can
not be safe.
There remained but one element
to confuse the issue. One other
great autocracy, the Government of
the Russian Gar, he'd long been hos
tile to free institutions; it had been a
stronghold of tyrannies reaching far
back into the past; and its presence
among the Allies had seemed to be
in discord with the great liberal prin-
ciples they were upholding in this
war. Russia had been a source of
doubt. Repeatedly during the con-
fiict liberal Europe had been startled
by the news of secret accord be-
tween the Kaiser and the Gear.
But now at this crucial time for
our Nation, on the eve of our en-
trance into the war, the free men of
all the world were thrilled and
heartened by the news that the pro-
pie of Russia had risen to throw off
their Government and found a new
democracy; and the torch of free
dom in Russia lit up the last dark
phases of the situation abroad. Here
indeed was a fit partner for the Lea
que of Honpr. The conviction was
finally crystallized in American minds
and hearts that this war across the
sea was no mere conflict between
dynasties but a ~stupendous civil war
of all the world; a new campaign in
the age old war, the prize of which
is liberty. Here at last was a strug-
gle in which all who love freedom
have a stake. Further neutrality on
our part would have been a crime
against our ancestors, who had Civ
en- their lives that we might be free.
"The world must be made safe for
democracy"
On the I'd of April, 1917, the
President read to the new Congress
his message, in which he asked the
Representatives of the Nation to de-
clare the existence of a state of war,
and in the early hours of the 9Th of
April the House by an overwhelm-
ing vote accepted the joint resolu-
ton which had already passed the
Senate:
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
Resolved by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assem-
bled, That the state of war between
the United States and the Imperial
Government which has thus been
thrust upon the United States is here
by formally declared; and that the
President be, and he is hereby, au-
thorized and directed to employ the
entire naval and military forces of
the United States and the
of the Government to carry on wal
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 Unit
ed States"
Neutrality was a thing of the past.
The time had come when the Pres
ident's proud prophecy was fulfilled:
There will come that day when
the world will say, This America