The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-11-10
thing for ourselves blu. what we shall

,athing for ourselves bu- wnat we shall
sh to share with all free people. we
hall feel conf lent. conduct our oper-
lions as belligerents without passion
nd ourselves observe with proud pune
lilo the principles of right and of fair
play we profess to be fighting for.
| have said nothing of the govern
rents allied with the Imperial gov
rnnent of Germany because they have
not made war upon US or challenged
Us to defend our right and our honor.
The Austro-Hungarian government has.
indeed, ayOwed It's unqualified indOrse-
neut and acceptance Of the reckless
md lawless submarine warfare, adopt
d now without Disguise by the Imper-
ial German government. and 10 has
therefore, not been possible for this
government TO receive Count TarnOw-
ski. the ambassador recently accredited
20 this government by the Imperial and
Royal government of Austris-Hungary;
hut that government has not actually
engaged I'm warfare against citizens of
the United States on the sens. and I
take the liberty. for the present at
least. of postpOning a discussion of our
relations with the authorities at VI
enna. We enter this war only where
we are clearly forced into II because
there are no other means Of defending
our rights.
IL will be all the easier for us to
conduct ourselves NJ belIiRerents In .
high spirit of right and fairness be-
cause we act without animus. not with
enmity toward people or with the
desire TO bring any injury or disad-
vantage upon them. but only In armed
opposition to nm irresponsible govern
ment which has thrown aside all con-
alterations Of humanity and of right
and In running amuck.
We are, let me say again, the sin
cere friends 81 the German people, and
shall desire nothing 30 much n the
early re-establishment of intimate rela-
lions of mutual advantage between us,
however hard II mny be for them for
the time being to believe that this II
spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with their present government
through all these bitter months be-
cause of that friendship, exercising .
patience and forbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
We shall happily still have an op-
portunity to prove that friendship In
our daily attitude and actions toward
the millions Of men and women OF Ger
man birth and native sympathy who
live among us and share our life, and
we shall be proud to prove 1t toward
all who are in fact loyal to their neigh
bors and to the government In the hour
OF test. They are most of them n true
and loyal Americans II they had
never known any other fealty or al
Ieriance. They will he prompt to stand
with us In rebuking and restraining
the few who may be of a different mind
and purpose. II there should be dis
loyalty. II will be dealt with with a
Arm hand of stern repression, but II
II lifts its head at all, Ii will lift II
only here and there and without coun-
tenance except from q lawless and
malignant few.
II In a distressing and oppressive duty,
gentlemen of the congress, which
have performed I'm thus addressing you.
There are, II may be. many months of
dery trial and sacrifice ahead of us.
II II q fearful thing to lead this great.
peaceful people into war. into the most
terrible and disastrous of all wars, CIV
ilixation itself seeming to be In the
balance.
hut the right n more precious than
pence. and we shall fight for the things
which we have always carried nearest
our hearts-for democracy, for the
right OF those who submit to authority
to have a voice in their own govern
ments, for the rights and liberties Of
small nations, for . universal dominion
OF right by such q concert Of free peO-
pie as shall bring peace and safety to
all nations and make the world itself
at last free.
To such q task we can dedicate our
lives and our fortunes, everything that
we are and everything that we have,
with the pride of those who know that
the day has come when America L.
privileged to spend her blood md her
might for the principles that gave her
birth and happiness and the peace
which she has treasured.
God helping her. she can do NO other.