The Washington herald., 1917-02-27

OF law, by the plain Implication of my
constitutional duties and powers; but /
prefer, in the present circumstances, not
to act upon general implication. wish
TO feel that the authority and the power
OF the Congress are behind me in what
ever 1t may become necessary for me
TO do. We are Jointly the servants OF
the people and must act together and in
their spirit, 80 far as We can divine and
interpret It.
No one doubts what II Is our duty to
do. We must defend our commerce and
the lives of our people in the midst of the
present trying circumstances, with discre-
ton but with clear and steadfast pur-
pose. Only the method and the extent
remain to be chosen. upon the occasion,
IL occasion should indeed arise. Since
it has unhappily proved impossible to
safeguard our neutral rights by diplo-
matte means against the unwarranted
infringements they are suffering at the
hands OF Germany. there may be no re-
course but to armed neutrality, which
we shall know how to maintain and for
which there is abundant American prece-
dent.
A Friend of Peace.
1t Is devoutly to be hoped that 1t will
not be necessary to put armed force any,
where into action. The American peo-
pie do not desire 1t, and our desire is not
dlnerent from theirs. I am sure that
they VIII understand the spirit in which
l am now acting, the purpose I hold
nearest my heart and would wish to ex-
hibit in everything I do. I am anxious
that the people Of the nations at war
also should understand and not mistrust
us. hope that I need give no further
proofs and assurances than 1 have al
ready given throughout nearly three
years OF anxious patience that am the
friend OF peace and mean to preserve it
TOT America so long as am able. I am
not now proposing or contemplating war
or any steps that need lead to II, I mere
ly request that you will accord me by
your own vote and definite bestowal the
means and the authority to safeguard
in practice the right Of a great people
who are at peace and who are desirous
OF exercising none but the rights of peace
to follow the pursuits Of peace in quiet
ness and good will-rights recognized
time out OF mind by all the civilized ma
tions of the world. No course of INV
choosing or Of theirs will lead to war.
war can come only by the willful acts
and aggressions Of others.
You will understand why I can make
no dehnite proposals or forecasts of ac-
t1on now and must ask for your support-
ing authority in the most general terms
Ihe form in which action NAV become
necessary cannot yet be foreseen. I be-
neVe that the people will be willing to
trust me to act with restraint with pru-
dence, and In the true spirit of amity and
GOOD faith that they have themselves
displayed throughout these irving
months, and 1t is in that belief that l
request that you will authorize me 70
supply our merchant ships with defen-
sive arms, should that become necessary
and with the means of using them, and
TO employ any other instrumentalities or
methods that may be necessary and ado
duate to protect our ships and our peo-
PIE In their legitimate and peaceful DUR
SUITS on the seas. I request also that
you Will grant me at the same time. along
with the powers I ask. a sufficient credit
10 enable me to provide adequate means
OF protection where they are lack. in
cluulns adequate insurance against the
present war risks.
I have spoken OF our commerce and n,
the legitimate errands of our peonIe nm
the seas, but you will not he rotsIos on
to my main thought, the thought thai lies
beneath these phrases and gives tban,
dignity and weight. 1t is not OF material
interests merely that We are tbinkinp
1t is, rather. Of fundamental human
heights. chief OF all the right of life IT,
sell. am thinking, not only OF the
about their proper business bv way ~
the sea, but also of something much deem
er. much more fundamen ntal than that
am thinking of those rights of humanity
without which there is no civilization,
Thinks of Noncombatant..
My theme is of those great principes OF
compa ssion and OF protection which man
kind has sought to throw about human
lives, the lives of nonCombatants. the
lives of men who are peacefully at work
keeping the industrial processes Of the ,
world quick and vital, the lives OF women
and children and those who supply the
labor which ministers to their sustenance.
We are speaking of no selfish material
rights. but of rights which our hearts
support and whose foundation is that
righteous passion for justice upon which
all law. all structures alike of family. of
state, and of mankind must rest, as upon
the ultimate base of our existence and
our liberty. I cannot imagine any man
with American principles at his heart
hestating to defend these things.
nY OF NJ