White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1917-04-06

Indeed 1T is now evident tnat ltS
spies were here even before the war
began, and it unhappily is not a mat
ter of conjecture, but fact proved
in our courts Of justice, that the In
trigues which have more than once
come perilously near to disturbing
the peace and dislocating the indus
tries of the country have been car
ried on at the instigation, with the
support and even under the personal
direction of official agencies OF the
imperial government accredited TO the
government of the United States.
German People Not Our Enemy.
Even in checking these things and
trying to extirpate them we nave
sought to put the most generous inter-
pretations possible upon them because
we knew that their source lay, not in
any hostile feeling or purpose OF the
German people toward us (who were,
no doubt, as ignorant OF them as we
our selves were), but only in the sell
fish designs Of government that did
what it pleased and told its people
nothing. But they have played their
part in serving to convince us at last
that that government entertains no real
friendship for us and means to act
against our peace and security at its
convenience. That it means to stir up
enemies against us at our very doors,
the intercepted note to the German
minister at Mexico City is eloquent evil
dence. We are accepting this challenge
Of hostile purpose because we know
that in such a government, following
such methods, we can never have
friend; and that in the presence OF its
organized power, always lying in wait
to accomplish we know not what pur-
pose, there can be no assured security
for the democratic governments OF the
world.
We are now about to accept the gage
of battle with this natural foe to lib
erty, and shall, if necessary, spend the
whole force of the nation to check and
nullify its pretentions and its power.
We are glad, now that we see the facts
with no veil of false pretense about
them, to fight thus for the ultimate
peace of the world and the liberation
OF its peoples, the German peoples in
cluded; for the rights of nations great
and small and the privilege of men
everywhere to choose their way OF life
and Of obedience. The world must be
made safe for democracy. Its peace
must be planted upon the trusted foun-
dations of political liberty.
No Selfish Aim.
We have no selfish ends to serve. We
desire no conquest, no dominion We
seek no indemnities for ourselves, nc
material compensation for the sacri'
fees we shall freely make. We are but
one of the champions of the rights OF
mankind. We shall be satisfied.
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 toward a people or with the de-
sire to bring any injury or disadvan-
tage upon them, but only in armed op-
position to an irresponsible government
which has thrown aside all considera-
tons Of humanity and of right and is
running amuck.
We are, let me say again, the sin.
cere friends Of the German people, ane
shall desire nothing so much as thu
early establishment Of intimate rela
tons of mutual advantage between u
however hard it may be for them, TO
the time being, to believe that this il
spoken from our hearts. We hav
borne with their present government
through all these bitter months because
of that notwithstanding pa
tience and forbearance which Woult
otherwise have been impossible. W.
shall, happily, still have an opportunit!
to prove that friendship in our dali!
attitude and actions toward the millions
OF men and women Of German brit
and native sympathy who live amongs
us and share our life, and we shall b
proud to prove it toward all who ar
in fact loyal to their neighbors and t.
the government in the hour Of test
They are, most Of them, as true an
loyal Americans as If they had neve
known any other fealty or allegiance
They will be prompt to stand with u
in rebuking and restraining the fe,
who may be of a different mind an
purpose. II there should be disloyalt
it will be dealt with with firm ham
OF stern repression; but if it lifts it
head at all it will lift it only here an
there and without countenance excep
from a lawless and malignant few.
Many Months Of Trial.
1t is distressing and Oppressive
duty, gentlemen of the congress, whicl
have performed in thus addressing
you. There are, it may be, many man.
months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahea'
OF us. It is fearful thing to lead thi
great peaceful country into war, into tn
most terrible and disastrous of all wars
civilization itself seeming to be in tn
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