Connecticut western news., 1917-04-05

1feS1ue0L W1ISOD 1dS Cdlleu tue Uull- ed States to arms against the German government and congress to vote formal declaration of war. The presi- dent before the joint session recited the long list of aggressions suffered by this nation, declared further continu- ance of armed neutrality impracticable He asked for the raising of 50O,OOO men by universal training, cooperation with the allies, liberal financial credits and immediate action against subma- rines by the navy.
 President Wilson emphasized that the declar, tion of war is not against the German people either in Europe or in this country. He also made it clear that no action is being taken against Austro-Hungary, Turkey or Bulgaria.
 While the congress was hearing the message news came of the sinking of the first American armed ship to defy the submarines. This was the Oriental liner Aztec. The news accented the war spirit already sweeping the capi- tai.
 The War Resolution.
 The resolution declaring war is drafted. It will be voted in joint ses- sion.
 Listening to an epochal message in the nations history, congress heard the president in grim silence. The president said in part: 1od hn into dinary session because there are serious. very serious choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was nei- | ther right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of | making.
 On the 3d of February last officially | laid before you the extraordinary an- nouncement of the imperial German gov ] ernment that on and after the 1st day of 1 February it was it's purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use it's submarines to sink every vessel | that sought to approach either the ports | of Great Britain and Ireland or the west srn coasts of Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean.
 The present German warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations American ships have been sunk, American lives talk | en, in ways which 1t has stirred us very 1 deeply to learn of but the ships and peo- | pie of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the same way.
 There has been no discrimination. The challenge is to all mankind. Each nation must decide for itself how it will meet it. | The choice we make for ourselves must be made with moderation of counsel and B temperateness of judgment befitting our character and our motives as nation. | We must put excited feeling away Our | motive will not be revenge or the victori-
 oils assertion of the physical might of the
 nation, but only the vindication of right of human right-of, which we are only 8
 single charipion.
 When I addressed the congress on the
 s6th of February last I thought that il | would suffice to assert our neutral rights
 with arms, our right to use the seas
 against unlawful interference, our right
 to keep our people safe against unlawful | violence.
 Armed Neutrality ImpractieabIe.
 But armed neutrality, 1t now appears, is impracticable. Because submarines are ir | effect outlaws when used as the German
 submarines have been used against mer- chant shipping it is impossible to defend ships against their attacks as the law o1
 nations has assumed that merchantmen l would defend themselves against priva