Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-03

ing nothing for ourselves but what we shall wish to share with all free peo- pies, we shall, feel confident, conduct our operations as belHgerents without passion and ourselves observe with proud punctilio the principles of right and of fair play we profess to be fighting for.
 No War With Austro- Hungary.
 T have said nothing of the govern ments allied with the imperial govern ment of Germany because they have not made war upon us or challenged us to defend our right and our honor. The Austro-Hungarfan government has, indeed, avowed it's unnualifIed endorsement and acceptance of the reckless and lawless submarine war fare adopted now without disguise by the imperial German government, and 1t has therefore not been possible for this government to receive Count Tar nowski, the ambassador recently &C., credited to this government by the imperial and royal government of Aus tria- Hungary; but that government has not actually engaged in warfare against citizens of the United States on the seas and take the liberty, for the present at least, of postponing a discussion of our relations with the authorities at Vienna We. enter this war only where we are clearly forced into it because there are no other means of defending our rights.
 No Enmity Towards Germans.
 "It will be all the easier for us to conduct ourselves as belligerents in a high spirit of right and fairness be- cause we act without animus. not in enmity towards people or with the desire to bring any injury or disad- vantage upon them, but only in armed opposition to an irresponsible gov ernment which has thrown aside all considerations of humanity and of right and Is running amuck.
 We are, let me say again, the sin fria 6c nf "a 1V16 shall desire nothing so mitch as to early re-establish our intimate rela- tions of mutual advantage between us however hard it may be for them, for the time being, to believe that this is spoken from our hearts.
 Friendship for German Men and
 Women.
 we have borne with their present government through all these bitter months because of that friendship exercising a patience and forbearance which would otherwise have been i'm possible. We shall. happily, still have an opportunity to prove that friend ship in our daily attitude and actions towards the millions of men and wo- men of German birth and native sym pathy who live amongst us and share our life, and we shall be proud to prove 1t towards all who are in fact loyal to their neighbors and to the govern ment in the hour of test They are,
 
 Americans as if they had never known any other fealty or allegiance. They will be prompt tS stand with us in rebuking and restraining the few who may be of a different mind and pur- pose. If there should be disloyalty 1t will be dealt with with firm hand of stern repression: but, if 1t lifts it's head at all. it will lift it only here and there and without countenance except from a lawless and malignant Jew.
 Civilization Hangs in Balance. Tt is a distressing and oppressive duty. gentlemen of the congress, which I have performed in thus addressing you. There are. it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disast- rous of all wars. civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the | right Is more precious than peace. and already carried nearest our hearts for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small na- tions, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. To such a task we can ded- icate our lives and our fortunes, ev- erything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America Is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the prin- ciples that gave her birth and happi- ness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her. she can do no other"