The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-11-08

nLtnIng rof v.irsel,es out waaa We snail
wish to share'witE all free people we
shall. / feel conhdent, concuct our oper-
ations as belligerepts without passion
and ourselves observe with proud pune
tilio tho principles OF right and or fair
play We profess to be tighring for
have said nothing of the govern
ments allied with the Imperial gov
eminent of Germany because they have
not made war upon us or challenged
as TO defend our right and our honor.
The Austro-Hungarinn government has,
indeed. avowed it's unqualified indorse-
ment and acceptance of the reckless
and Iawiess submarine warfare, adopt
ed now without disguise by the Imper-
iaI German government. and II has
therefore not been possible for this
government to receive Count TRrnow-
ski. the ambassador recently accredited
Ia this government by the Imperial and
Royal government Of Austria-HunRaryi
hut that government has not nctuasIy
engaged In warfare against citizens of
the United states on the seas, and !
TAKE the liberty, for the present mt
least. of pOstponing a discussion OF our
relations with the authorities mt Vi
ems. We enter this war only where
we are clearly forced into II because
there are no other means of defending
our rights.
II will be all the easier for us to
conduct ourselves ms bsiIIgerentn In n
high spirit of right and fairness be-
cBuse we act without animus, not with
enmIty toward people or with the
desire to bring any injury or dfsnd-
vantage upon them, hut only In armed
opposition 10 an irresponsible govern
meDt which has thrown aside NIL con-
siderations of humanity and of right
and In running amuck.
We are, let me say again, the sin
cere friends Of the German people, and
shall desire nothing so much ms the
early re-estRtIishment of Intimate rels-
lions of mutual advantage between us,
however hard II may he for them for
the time being 10 believe that this In
spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with their present government
through all these bitter months be-
causc of that friendship, exercising N
patience and forbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
We shall happily stilI have an op-
pOrtunity TO prove that friendship In
our daily attitude and actions toward
the millions OF men and women OF Ger
mBn birth and native sympathy who
live among us and share our life, and
we shall he proud 10 prove Ii toward
all who are In fact loyal to their neigh
bOrs and TO the government in the hour
of test. They are most of them ns tru~
and loyal Americans as II they had
never known any other fealty or nj
leglsnce. They will he prompt to stand
with us in rebuking and restraining
the few who may he of a different mind
and purpose. II there should he dis
loyalty, IL will he dealt with with
Arm hand of stern repressioni but ~
ID lifts Its head at all, II will lift IL
only here and there and without cOun-
tenance except from "a IawIess and
few.
II In n distressing and oppressive duty,
gentlemen of the congress, which
have performed In thus addressing you.
There are, II may be, many months of
fiery trinl and sacrifice ahead of US.
II is n fearful thing to lead this great,
people Into war. into the most
terrible and disastrous of all wars, civ
iiIzRtiOn itself seeming to he In the
balance.
But the right IN more precious than
peace, and we shall fight for the things
which we have always carried nearest
our heRrts-for democracy, for the
right of those who submit TO authority
to have voice In their own govern
ments, for the rights and liberties of
small nations, for a universal dominion
of right by such II concert of free peo-
pie as shall bring peace and snfety TO
all nations and make the world itself
nj Inst free.
To such n task we can dedicate our
lives and our fortunes. everything thnt
we are and everything that we have,
with the pride of those who know that
the day has come when America IL
privileged to spend her blood and her
might for the principles that gave her
birth and happiness and the peace
which she has treasured.
God helping her, she can do ne other.