Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-04-11
PRESIDENT ASKS CONGRESS TO SAY
WAR STATE EXISTS WITH GERMANY

intercepted note to the German minis
ter at Mexico City is eloquent evil
dence.
| We are accepting this challenge OF
hostile purpose because we know that
in such government. following such
methods, we can never have a friend,
/ and that in the presence of its organ
lied power, always lying in wait TO ac-
! complisb we know not what purpose.
/ there can be no assured security for
the democratic governments of the
world
We are now about to accept gage
Of battle with this natural foe TO lib
erty and shall. if necessary, expend the
! whole force of the nation TO check and
/ nuilify its pretensions and its power.
No False Pretense.
/ We are glad, now that we see the
| facts with no veil or false pretense
about them. to fight thus for the ulti-
/ mate peace of the world and for the
liberation of its people, the German
peoples included for the rights of ma
| tons great and small, and the priv
ilege Of men everywhere to choose
| their way Of life and of obedience
The world must be made safe for
| democracy. Its peace .aust he planted
upon the tested foundations of politi-
cal liberty.
We desire no conquest, no dominion.
We seek no indemniues for ourselves,
no material compensation for the sac
ritice we shall freely make.
We are but one of the champions of
the rights of mankind. We shall be
satisfied when those rights have been
made as secure as the faith and the
freedom of nations can make them.
Just because we fight, without ran
cor and without selfish object, seek
ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish TO share with all free peo-
pies, we shall. feel confident, conduct
our operation or beIIlgerents without
passion and ourselves observe r.th
proud punctiIio the principles of right
and of fair play we profess to be fight
ing for.
Regarding the details OF war meas
ures, Mr.. Wilson said:
1T will involve the utmost practl-
cal cooperation in counsel and action
with the governments now at war with
Germany and, as incident 10 that, the
extension TO those governments of the
most liberal credit, in order that our
resources may be added TO theirs.
Resources.
1T will involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re-
sources Of the country to supply the
materials of war and serve the Incl
dental needs Of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
The Navy.
1T will involve the immediate full
equipment Of the navy in all respects,
but particularly in supplying it with
the best means of dealing with the
enemy's submarines.
The Army.
1t viii involve the immediate addi-
ton to the armed forces of the United
States already provided for in case Of
war at least 100000 men, who should,
In my opinion, be chosen upon the
principle Of universal liability to serv-
ice. and also the authorization of sub
seQuent additional increment of equal
force so soon as they may be needed
and can be handled in training.
Finance.
1T win involve the granting ade-
quate credits TO the government, sus-
tanned. hope, so far as they can equi-
tably be sustained by the present gen
GRAFTON, by well conceived taxation.
II seems TO me that ii would
be most unwise TO have the credits
which win now be necessary entered
on borrowed money.
Munitions.
1--WE should interfere as little as
| possible with the duty-fOr it
viii be q very practical duty-of sup
plying the nations already at war with
Germany with the material which they
can obtain only from US"
Referring once more to the attitude
of America toward the great German
people-as distinguished from the
warmad and blOOd-lusty autocracy, the
president declared:
To Germans in America.
We are, let me say again. the sin
cere friends of the German people, and
shall desire nothing so much as the
early re-establlshment of intimate re-
| lations Of mutual advantage between
us. however hard 1t may be for them
for the time being to believe that this
is spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with .heir present government
| through al these bitter months be-
| cause of that friendship. exercising a
| patience and forbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
We shall, happily. still have an OPP
| portunity to prove that friendship in
our daily attitude and actions toward
| the millions of men and women of
| German birth and native sympathy
| who live among us and share our life,
| and we shall be proud to prove 1t to-
ward all who are in fact loyal to their
neighbors and to the government in
the hour of test. They are. most of
them. as true and loyal Americans as
If they had never known any other
fealty or allegiance. They will be
/ prompt to stand with US in rebuking
and restraining the few who may be
| of different mind and purpose.
If there should be disloyalty Ii will
be dealt with with firm hand of stern
| repression. but. If il lifts head at all IL
will lift it only here and there and