The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-11-09

That the German government did
not dare permit the publication in that
country of the full text of President
Wilson'S address to congress on April
1917, in which the president called
Lpon congress to declare the existence
ef state OF war with the imperial
German government Is shown by copies
ef the message as published in Ger
many which have been obtained by the
eomnittee on public information Of the
| United States government.
| The Wolff Telegraph bureau, which
ts not only under censorship control of
ahe German government but has been
used as a semi-officiaI mouthpiece of
Che government, in its report Of Presi-
dent Wilson's address, suppressed
many passages in which the president
Outlined the conditions which forced
fhis country to defend itself against
Abe attacks Of the German government
AS result the message was presented
10 the German people in an ABRIDGED
and distorted form.
In the following copy of the presi-
dents address, issued by the commit
see on public information, the passages
suppressed by the Wolff Telegraph bu-
reau are shown in bold.faced type.
Gentlemen Of the Congress-
! have called the congress into extra.
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious, very serious, choices OF policy to
be made. and made Immediately. which
permissible that should assume the re-
Sponsibility Of making.
On the Sd of February last / officially
laid before you the extra ordinary an
rouncement OF the Imperial German
government that on and after the 1st
gay OF February II was its purpose TO
put aside all restraints OF law or of hu-
manity and use its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports of Great Britain and
Ireland or the western coasts OF Europe
or any of tho ports controlled by the
enemies of Germany within the Medi-
terranean That had seemed to be the
object of the German submarine war
fare earlier in the war, but since April
OF last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders OF its uudersea craft, in conform
ity with its promise. then given TO us,
that passenger boats should not be
Afven 10 all other vessels which its
submsrines might seek TO destroy,
when resistance was offered or es-
cape attempted, and care taken TINT
their crews were given nt least a fair
chance TO snve their lives in their open
boats. The precautions taken were
meRger and haphaxard enough. ss was
proved In distressing Instance after
Instance In the progress of the cruel
aBd unmanly business, but a certain de-
gree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels OF every kind,
whatever their flag. their character
their cargo. their destination, their
errand. have been ruthessly sent to
che bottom without warning and with
cut thought Of help or mercy for those
on board the vessels of friendly neu-
trails along with those of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief TO the sorely berenved and strick-
en- people of Belgium, though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself and were
distinguished by unmistskable marks
of identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
of principle.
was for a little while unable to
believe that such things would In fact
y done by any government that had
Aitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had Its origin In the at
tempt to set up some law which would
he respected and observed upon the
seas, where no nation had right Of
dominion and where lay the free high
ways Of the world. BY painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
with meager enough results. indeed.
after all was accomplished that could
be accomplished but always with
clear view, at least. of what the heart
and conscience of mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation and necessity and
because il had no weapons which 1t
could use at sea except these. which
II is impossible to employ as II Is en-
ploylng them without throwing to the
wind all scruples of humanity or OF
respect for the understandings that
were supposed to underlie the inter
course OF the world.
am not now thinking of the loss OF
property involved. immense and serious
as that is. but only OF the wanton and
wholesale destruction of the lives of
non -combatants. men. women, and chill
dren engaged In pursuits which have
always even In the darkest periods of
modern history, been deemed Innocent
aud Legitimate. Property can be paid
for; the lives OF peaceful aud Innocent
people cannot he. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
ls warfare against mankind.
II is a war against all nations. Amer
lean ships have been sunk, American
lives taken, In ways which IL mas
strred us very deeply to learn Of but
the ships mad people OF other neutrai
and friendly nations have been sunk
md overwhelmed In the waters In inc
same way. There has been no dis
crlmin tion.
The challenge II TO all mankind.
Each nation must decide for itself how
II will meet II. The choice we make
Tor ourselves must be made with a
moderation OF counsel and temper
ateness Of Judgment BETTING our
character and our motives as a nation
We must put excited feelings away
Our motive will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion OF the physical
might OF the nation. but only the Vin-
dication OF right. OF human right. OF
which we are only a single champion
uh>r addrassad the congress on