New Britain herald., 1917-04-04
Hitqsacock Opens For War.

Hftqlacock Opens For War.
 In 2 brief opening statement. Sem ator Hitchcock. in charge of the res- olutton. said the present was time for action. not discussion. '''The time for discussion has passed he said. The president has already stated more clearly, effectively, more. con- clusayeiy the reasons which make this grave step necessary. The resolution pEcnities for war aea1nst the ipap eFial government of aerlnany. It is framed on the lines Of other war resolutions. It places respostsibiiity of the war sQslarely upon the shoulders of tho German gOvernnnent. charged with repeated acts of war against the United states. It is also unQuestion- ably . declaration of war; x, {.
 T am impressed with the solemnity of the occasion. Some may Berfilled with joy at the prospect of war; To enormous cost which the people must living, the enormous burden of taxes the people must bear. and the still greater heritage of death stagger my
  tors feel as I do."
 We want no more territory = said Senator Hitchcock. .'We will demand no indemnity We have no historic grudge to settle. nor racial anttpathy. Tn this respect we differ from the Oth- CT countries already involved in this awful struggle. There Is Pan-Slavism against Pan-GermaniSm. Italy wants back the Trentino. France her lost provinces, Great Britain has German commafces and German colonies. ai-51
 most Iii her grasp, Russia wants Con- stantinople and Germany. beside her place in the sun, wants to dominate Europe.
 ..WA, of all nations, will spend our treasure and our blood and sacrifice our lives without the thought of pos sibility of gain. We are going to war to vindicate our honor and independ- ence as a great nation and in defense of humanity. Such Quarels as we have with Germany are not of our choos- ing. It was forced upon us, and we did much to avoid 1t. For nearly three years the president, congress and the American people have hoped to avoid it. But one desperate act by the Imperial German government has followed another. .+I do not mean to say Germany has desired war with us; I do not believe that. But the Imper- ial German government has been des- perate and has taken desperate chances. 7
 American neutrality. the senator said. had first been shocked by the in-I vasion of Belgium; then the sinking of the Lusitania almost caused war. He said, however, he did not consid- er that Germany had violated any pledges she gave after the sinking of the Lusitania, because she nAd ex- pressly reserved the right to revoke 5 that pledge. ,f@i 5. .sFss. During Senator Hitchcock's speech < Senator La Toilette was absent most of the time, ,conferring with SAnAtor Gronna and others. who are expected to oppose the reaolaticn.
 Country Ready for War.
 Senator Hitchcock said he had hoped armed neutrality would avert war. He had been bitterly opposed to war, he said. Even. when he knew the people and a majority of con- gress were for it he besought the president to remain longer, if possible, under the policy of armed neutrality as an expedient for peace.
 "But." he continued. "the president had information in his possession which made 1t impossible.
 '.The country is ready and congress Is ready. While the vote has not been