Meade County news., 1917-11-08

the 26th OF February last thought Il
would suffice to assert our neutral rights
with arms. our right to use the seas
against unlawful interference, Our right
TO keep our people safe against unlaw-
rul violence. But armed neutrality. II
now appears is impracticable. Because
submarines are in effect outlaws, when
use the German submarines have
been used against merchant shipping
II Is impossible to defend ships against
their attacks, as the law of nations has
assumed that merchantmen would de-
fend themselves against PrivateerE or
cruisers, visible craft giving chase up
on the open sea. 1t Is common pru-
dence in such circumstances, grim nee
essity indeed to endeavor to destroy
them before they have shown their own
intention. They must be dealt with up
on sight, II dealt with at all.
The German government denies the
right of neutrals to use arms at all
within the areas of the sea which 1t
has prescribed even in the defense of
rights which no modern publicist has
ever before questioned their right to
defend The intimation. is conveyed that
the armed guards which we have
placed on our merchant ships will be
treated as beyond the pale of law and
subject to be dealt with as pirates
would be- Armed neutrality In ineffec-
tunl enough nt bestj In such circum-
stances and in the face of such preten-
siOnS II In worse than inefHectualj Ii is
likely only to produce what II was
mennt to preveHtj 1t IL practically cer-
tain to draw us into war without either
the rights or the effectiveness of the bel
ligerents. There Is one choice we can
not make, we are incapable of making;
We VIII not choose the path OF submlH-
sion and suffer the most sacred rights
of our nation and our people to be ig-
nored or violated. The wrongs against
which we now array ourselves are no
common wrOngsj they cut to the very
roots OF human life.
With a profound sense of the solemn
and even tragIcaI character of the step
I am taking and of the grave RESPONSE
bIlItIes which II involves, but in un-
hesitating obedience to what / deem
my constitutional duty, / advise that
the congress declare the recent course
of the Imperial German government to
be In fact nothing less than war
against the government and people of
the United States; that II formally ac-
cept the status of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon It; and that 1t
take immediate steps not only to put
the country in more thorough state
of defense, but also to exert all Its
power and employ all its resources to
bring the government of the German
empire to terms and end the war.
What this will involve is clear 1t
will involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation in counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many. and as incident to that, the ex-
tension to those governments of the
most liberal financial credits, In order
that our resources may so far as pos
sible be added to theirs.
1t will involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re-
sources of the country to supply the
materials of war and serve the incl
dental needs of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
1t will involve the immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects
but particularly in supplying 1t with
the best means of dealing with the enc
my's submarines.
It will involve the immediate addi-
tion to the armed forces of the United
States. already provided for by law in
case of war. of at least 100000 men.
who should, in my opinion. be chosen
upon the principle of universal liabil-
ity to service. and also the authorize
tion of subsequent additional incre-
ments of equal force so soon as they
may be needed and can be handled in
training.
II will involve also, of course, the
granting of adequate credits to the
government, sustained, I hope, 30 far
ms they can eduItnbIy be sustained by
the present generation, by well-cOn-
ceived taxation.
say sustained so far ns may be
equitable by taxation, because II seems
to me that II would he most unwiHe to
base the credits, which Will now he
necessary, entirely ON money borrowed.
II is our duty, I most respectfully urge,
to protect our people, SO far as we
may, against the very serious hard
ships and evils which would be likely
to arise out of the imitation which would
be produced by vast loans.
In carrying out the measures by
which these things are to he accom-
pIiahed we should keep constantly in
mind the wisdom of Interfering rs lit
tie as possible In our own preparation
and In the equipment of our own mill
tary forces with the duty-fOr II Will
be n very practical duty-Of supplying
the nations already at war with Ger
many with the materials which they
can obtain only from us or by our MS
HlstRnce. They Rre in the field, and we
should help them in every way to be
effective there.
shall take the liberty of suggest
Ing, through the several executive de-
partments of the government, for the
confederation of your committees,
measures for the accomplishment of
the several objects ! have mentioned.
I hope that II will he your pleasure to
deal with them as having been framed
after very careful thought by the
branch of the government upon whom
/, the responsibility of conducting the
war and safeguarding the nation will
most directly fall.
While we do these things, these deep
Iy mOmentOuH things, let uH be very
clear, and make very clear TO all the
! world, what our motives and our OBJ
jects are. My own thought has not
been driven from Its hRbItuaI and nor
NAL course by the unhappy events of
the last two months, and do not be-
IIeve that the thought of the nation
has been altered or clOuded by them. !
have exactly the same things In mind
| now that 1 had In mind when 1 ad-
| dressed the senate ON the 22d of Janu-
nry laAty the same that had In mind
when addressed congress ON the Sd OF
| February md on the Goth OF February.
| Our object now, as then, In to vindicnte
| the principles of peace aud Justice In
the life of the world ms against selfish