Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Wilson'S Message
All
Other WarEvents

SSAA6 C0os oooCAAoASu Al 90
sion, to declare a state of war ex-
listing between the United States
and Germany, spoke in full as fol-
lows:
Il have called the congress into
extraordinary session because
there are serious, very serious,
choices Of policy to be made, and
made Immediately, which it was
neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that l should assume
the responsibility of making.
HUMANITY PUT ASIDE.
ION the third Of February last, |
oficially laid before you the extra
ordinary announcement OF the I'M
peral German government that on
and after the first day of February
1t was its purpose to put aside all
restraints of law or of humanity
and use its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to ap-
proach either the ports Of Great
Britain and Ireland or the western
coasts of Europe, or any OF the
ports controlled by the enemies OF
Germany within the Mediterran-
can. That has seemed to be the
object Of the German submarine
warfare earlier in the war, but
since April Of last year the i'm
perial government has somewhat
restrained the commanders OF Its
andersen craft in conformity with
It's promise then given to Is that
passenger boats should not be
sunk, and that due warning would
be given to all other vessels which
It's submarines might destroy.
when no resistance was offered or
escape attempted and are taken
that their crews were given at
least a fair chance to save their
lives In their open boats. The pre-
cautions taken were meager and
haphazard enough as was proved
In distressing instance after in
stance in the progress Of the cruel
and unmanly business, but a GER
tain degree Of restraint was OBJ
served.
NO REST RIcTIoNs.
The new policy has swept every
restriction aside. Vessels of every
kind, whatever their flag, their
character, their cargo, their des-
tination, their errand, have been
ruthlessly sent to the bottom with
out warning and without thought
Of help or mercy for those on
board, the vessels Of friendly
neutrals along with those of bel
ligerents. Even hospital ships and
ships carrying relief to the sorely
bereaved and stricken people Of
Belgium. though the latter were
provided with safe conduct through
the prescribed areas by the Ger
man government itself, and were
distinguished by unmistakable
marks Of identity, have been sunk
with the same reckless lack Of
compassion or principle.
PRACTICE UNBELIEVABLE.
I was for little while unable to
believe that such things would in
fact be done by any government
that had hitherto subscribed to the
humane practices Of civilized ma
tons. International law had its
origin in the attempt to set up
some law which would be respect
ed and observed upon the seas,
where 10 nation had right Of do
minion and where lay the free
highways Of the world. BY painful
stage after stage has that law been
built up with meager enough re-
suits, indeed, after all a accom-
plished that could be accomplished
but always with a clear view at
least of what the heart and con
science of mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the Ger
man government has swept aside
under the plea of retaliation and
necessity, and because 1t had no
weapons which it could use at sea
except these, which it is impos-
slble to employ as it is employing
them without throwing to the
winds all scrIples Of humanity or
Of respect for the understandings
that were supposed TO underlie the
intercourse Of the world.
INNOCENT LIVES LOST.
81 am not now thinking Of the
loss of property involved, but only
OF the wanton and wholesale des-
truction of the lives of non-com-
batants men. women and chill
dren, engaged in pursuits which
have always, even In the darkest
periods of modern history, been
deemed innocent and legitimate.
Property can be paid for; the lives
Of peaceful and innocent people
cannot be.
THE present German submar-
Inc warfare against commerce is a
warfare against mankind. It is a
war against all nations. American
ships have been sunk.
lives taken in ways which
has stirred us very deeply TO learn
, but the ships and people Of other
'utral and friendly nations have been
nix and overwhelmed in the waters
the same way. There has been nc
scrimination. The challenge is to al
ankind. Each nation must decide
r itself how 1t will meet it. The
Ioice we make for ourselves must
made With a moderation Of coun'
! and a temperatures of judgment
Jul character and our mo-
res as a nation. We must put excited
cling away. Our motive will not be
venge or the victorious assertion OF
physical might of the nation, but
ly the vindication of right, of human
sht, Of which we are only a single
ampion.
MUST SHOOT ON SIGHT.