The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-22
Acknowledgement
Continued From Page one.)

ten fer itself and for Its system over
the entire world. Nowhere yielding to
the people their rightful powers. and
everywhere seeking to uphold autoo-
racy and despotism, It has shown its
intention to perpetuate absolute gov
eminent Of which II admittedly n the
head and front. Its "kultur" is avow-
ed to be the acme of human goodness
3 and endeavor, and is to boast of ruler
Tship Of the world. gained by force and
arms.
The world must fight to preserve
itself. OF this there can be no doubt.
i Heretofore. save In rare cases, war
has been a fight between armies; but
this war, because of the initial prepa-
ration for 1t by an autocracy which
prostituted whole mighty nation to
its purpose, liz a contest between peo-
Piles themselves. 1t is correspondingly
intense and relentless. The march of
events shows that it is now war of
systems-kings against people
II our enemy win, kings will dom-
nate the world. because no democracy
flights with or for them. The Prussian
autocrat and the brutal Turk will I'M
pose upon us their wills, tell us what
we may do, what we may not do. and
the horrors and atrocities OF Belgium
and Armenia leave no doubt what this
means Government of the people,
4 by the people and for the people will
perish from the earth" In this sense
) this is truly q war of absolute and
complete determination not of peoples,
but of systems, and so far as human
sight van pierce the future the life of
the one system or the other waits on
the result.
Thus otir own very life came to be
I bound up in the outcome of this war
long before we entered It, and even
L.
man OF vision 1t is as clear as sunlight
that the aim and the plan OF the i'm
} perial government was and is to con-
ouer the world, nation by nation. IT
was first to defeat France and Russia
next 10 dominate Great Britain, and
with Europe at its feet to turn to
America ''Kultur" and the German
sword were to rule around the world.
We have been thus forced by the i'm
4 perial government itself to choose
whether, In addition to suffering out
rage and plumber. we should calmly
wait to be crushed ourselves in due
E time and at the. pleasure Of the royal
will or should make common cause
with those who already fought for us
as well os for themselves. to the end
that autocratic domination over all
mankind should not come to pass.
Must Break Old Tie.
With all this before them congress,
The chosen representatives of the peo-
pie. ;ercising their constitutional duty
and with 4. realizing sense of their
great responsibility, announced in joint
resolution that the state OF war be-
tween the United States and the iuf-
perial German government whicI has
been thrust upon the United States Is
hereby formerly declared" and that
ito bring the conflict to a successful
termination all the resources of the
country are hereby pledged"
This is our promise to those we help.
our warning and threat to those We
fighA Our own fair name is bound
up in this pledge Our honor demands
that IL hi met to the full measure.
From the time congress and the presi.
dent thus spoke for us ii beca me the
duty. mora and legal, of each of us
20 aba9e nothing thai lay within his
power % mike our pledge good.
Whatever our views. whatever our
sympatf les heretofore had been. the
quarrel was now our quarrel, and we
must be true to ii In order to be true
to ourselves. That this meant that
some of us must break with cherished
memories, win friends home and kim
> bred cannot matter. SO broke our faith
ers, who gave us our liberties; so must
We break to preserve them.
The man who is unwilling to make
that sacrifice is unworthy the liberties
he enjoys and is unwelcome in our
midst. The sovereign people of the
United States have willed that our
every available resource of men and
industry must play It's part In win
ring this war. ana no kead ig>too high
! or TOO low to wish to escape the heavy
hand OF our sovereign Necessity.
, I have spoken thus far not of the
. lagGl penalties which attach TO OBJ
structi,n and disloyalty to this govern
! ment. but Of the broad political and
n moral elements of our situation and
{ o he con siderations of integrity and
h-uor which must imp"l us to loyalty
to our cause and compel our active
| aid and support. l have dons this
| because after all our safety lies not in
E penal statutes. but in a realizing sense
! of ritht>Tus cause. a firm resolu-
3 ton to do our full duty, and an un-
! dersta nding that we fight for the liber-
r ties of ourselves, our families and our
posterlty.
! have purposely moved slowly and
: With caution In invoking the strong
arm Of th9 law for seeming disloyelty.
believing that more mature considera-
} ton would show the occasional agita-
: tor that he was wrong and the rest
> of us were right. However. 1 shall
NOT Hs HAIL III
a the control Of those who persist in
their disloyalty and sehemfngs against
i the government and its purposes.
4 Z, s. Chm Punish Traitors.
= The federal government Is not pow
|, erless to handle such malcontents.
s Among other offenses. II can prosecute
those who wiilfully make or convey
1 false reports or false statements. when
+ the United States is at war, with in
n tent to interfere with the operation or
: success of the military or na-al forces
!, OF the federal government. or to pro-
mote the success OF the country's en-
: emies; also those who willfully cause,
I or attempt to cause, INSTRUMENTATION.
y dtsloyalty. mutIny or refusal OF duty.
or wtffully obstruct the recruiting or
> enlistment service OF the United States
:, also those who unlawfully combine or
- conspire to impede. obstruct or pre-
/. vent the execution OF the laws or the
>. United States; also those who under
. take to overawe the officers of the
. United States in performing their du-
ties either by direct intimidation or
A threats or by injuring their persons or
d property; also those who engage in
seditieus eonspiracies to overthrow or