Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
fair play we profess to be fighting for.
Silent on Allies.

$3.50 pAoS we l. T. Nv 49,
Silent on Allies.
Il 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 rights and our honor
The Austro-Hungarian government ha
indeed, avowed it's unqualified en-
less and lawless submarine warfare
adopted now without disguise by the
imperial German government and it has
therefore not been possible for this
government to receive Count TarnoW-
! ski, the ambassador recently accredited
to this government by the imperial and
royal government Of Austria 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 decision Of our
relations with the authorities at Wen
ma. We enter this war only where we
are clearly forced into it because there
are no other means of defending our
! rights. &
Easier as B%eIIiserents.
1T 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 a people or with the
desire to bring any injury or ~disadvan-
tage upon them, but only in armed op-
position to an irresponsible govern
ment which has thrown aside all con-
siderations of humanity and OF right
and is running amuck.
I'VE are. let me say again. the SIN,
cere friends Of the German people and
shall desire nothing so much as the
early establishment of intimate re-
lations OF mutual advantage between
us-however hard it may be for them,
for the time being to believe that this
is spoken from u hearts. We nave
borne with their present government
through all these bitter months be-
cause Of that friendship-exercising a
patience and forbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
Treat Germans Kindly.
We shall, happily. still have an op-
portunity to prove that friendship in
our daily attitude and actions towards
the millions Of men n women or
German birth and native sympathy who
live amongst VI and share our life. ana
we shall be proud to prove 1t towards
all who are in fact loyal to their neigh
bors 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 al
legiance. They will be prompt to stand
with us in rebuking and restraining the
few who may be Of a different mind m
If there should be d~isloyalty.
It will be dealt with with a hrm hand
Of stern repression; but If it lifts its
head at all, it will lift it only here and
there and without cOuntenance except
from a la wless and malignant few.
Honor Most Precious.
1T 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.
1t is a fearful thing to lead this great
peaceful country into war, into the
most terrible and disastrous OF all
wars, civilization itself seeming to be IN
the balance. But the right is more
precious thar peace, and we shall tight
for the things which We have always
carried nearest our hearts-for dem
ocracy, for the right of those who sub
NIT to authority to ave a voice in their
own governments, for the rights and
Of small nations, for a unlYer-
say dominion Of right by such a concert
OF free peoples as shall bring peace and
safety to all nations n make the
world itself at last free. To such a task
we can dedicate our lives and u Tor
tunes, everything that we are and
everything that we have, with the pride
of those who know that the day a
come when America is privileged TO
spend her blood and her might for the
principles that gave her birth and nap
piness and the peace which she has
treasured. God helping her, she can do
no other"