Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-03
WILSON SAYS j. 8.
and GERMANY ARE
IN STATE Of WAR
ScATHiNG INDICTMENT OF PRUs-
SIAN LAWLESsNEsS rs READ TO
JOINT CONGRESS- IN ExTRAoa.
BINARY SESSION.

BINARY SESSION.
Washington. April 2-Fresidont Wi
sons address before the joint congress
last night in which he declared
state OF war exists between the Unit
ed States and Germany, was sweep
ing Indictment Of German intrigue ant
1awlessness upon the h.gA seas, ac
cording to Ieedes u DOL legislative
branches OF the AmStFan gogeTlmen,
He said in part:
/ Rave called the Congress into cx
traordina-y session because there are
Serious, very serious choices Of policy
TO be made. and made Immediately
which it was neither right nor oonsti
tutionally permissible that | should as
sumo the responsibility OF making.
On the 3Td of February last | Off
cially laid before you the extraordn-
arg announcement Of the imperial
GeImsn government that on and after
the first day of February it was It's
purpose to put aside all restraints OF
law or Of humanity and use its subma
fines to sink every vessel that sought
&c approach either the ports of Great
Britain and ireland or TIE western
coasts of Europe, or any OF the ports
controlled by the enemies of Germany
within the Mediterranean.
Z That had seemed to be the object o.
ihe German submarine warfare earlier
in the war. but since April Of last year
Jhe imperial government had some
what restrained The commanders OF its
hDdersea craft in conformity with liz
promise thea given to US that passen.
ger boats should not be sunk, and that
due warning would be given to all
other vessels which its submarines
might seek to destroy, when no resist
ance was offered or escape attempted,
and care taken that their crews were
given at least fair chance to save
their lives in their open boats.
The precautions taken were meager
and haphazard enough as was proved
In distressing instance after instance
in the progress OF the cruel and UNI
manly business, but certain degree
bf restraint was observed
Nc Restrictions Now.
The view policy has swept every re-
strlction aside. vesse.s of every
kind whatever their flag, their clar-
acter, their cargo, their destination,
lheir errand, have been ruthlessly sent
10 the bottom without warning and
without thought OF help or mercy 10.
those on board, the vessels of friendly
neatrrals along with those OF belliger-
ents.
Even hospital ships and ships carry
ing relief TO the sorely bereaved and
stricken people of Belgium, though
the latter were provided with safe
conduct thru the prescribed areas by
the German government itself, and
were distinguished by unmistakable
marks of identity, have been sunk
with the same reckless lack of com
passion or principle.
Armed neutrality IL Intellectual
enough at best; il such circum
stances and in the face OF such pre-.
tentions, it is worse than Intellectual,
il is likely only to produce what it
was meant to prevent; it is practi-
eally certain to draw us into the war
without either the rights or the effec
tfveness Of belligerents.
There is ono choice we cannot make,
we are incapable of making give will
notcitoose the path Of submission and
gutter the most sacred rights OF our
nation ard our people TO be ignored or
violated The wrongs against when
Ne now array ourselves are not com
pcn wrongs they cut to the very
fcots Of human life.
81 With a profound sense Of the solemn
and even tragical character of the
step | am taxing and of the grave re
spolsibilites which it involves, but IN
unhestating obedience to what / deem
my constitutional duty, advise that
the Congress declare the recent
course Of the imperial German govern
ment to be in fact nothing less than
war against the government and PEG
pie OF the United States, that il for
Hally accept the status of belligerent
which has been thrust upon it. and
that 1t take immediate steps not only
10 put the country n q more Thorough
state Of defense but also to exert all
It's power and employ all its resources
TO bring the government OF the Ger.
man empire to terms and end the wal.
X What this will involve Is clear. II
VIII involve the utmost practicable co
operation in counsel and action with
the governments nov at war with Ger
many, and as incident TO that, the ex
tension to those governments of the
most liberal financial credits in order
mat our resources may SO far as pos
sible, be added to theirs.
II viii 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