The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-08-09

means anything, that the promises TO
refrain from brutal submarine war
fare which Germany had made 10 the
United States were never intended 10
be kept, that they were only made in
order % gain time In which TO build
more submarines, and that when the
time came TO act, the German prom
ises we're unhesitatingly torn to pieces
Ike other scraps Of paper
ut ii this disclosure Of the char
actor OF the Imperial Government
which Is tho underlying cause Of our
entry into the war We had doubted
or ct least many Americans had
doubted. the evil purposes Of the rul-
crs Of Germany. Doubt remained no
longer. In the light Of events we
could read the past ard see that for
quarter of century the absorbing
ambition Of the military oligarchy
which was the master Of the German
empire was for world-dom,nation."
Asserting that "The future Of the
United States is at stake" Secretary
Lansing said that "if any of you have
the idea that we are fighting others
battles, and rot our own, the sooner
he gets away from that idea the bet
ter II will be for him, the better it will
be for all Of us.
Imagine Germany victor in Europe
because the United States remained
neutral. Who then, think you, would
be the next victim of those who are
seeking to be masters Of the whole
earth? Would not this country with
its enormous wealth arouse the cupid
ity of an impoverished though tri-
umphant Germany? Would rot this
democracy be the only obstacle be-
tween the autocratic rulers Of Ger
many and their supreme ambition ?
Do you think that they would withhold
their hand from so rich a prize?
Germany Would Attack Us
"Let me then ask you, would it be
easier or wiser for this country single
handed to resist Germany empire,
flushed with victory and with great
armies and navies at its command,
than to unite with the brave enemies
of that empire in ending now and for
all time this menace 70 our future?
Primarily then every man who
crosses the ocean to fight on foreign
soil against the armies of the German
emperor, goes forth to fight for his
country and for the preservation of
those things for which our forefathers
were willing to die. To those who
thus offer themselves we owe the
same debt that we owe to thoce men
who in the past fought on American
soil in the cause of liberty. No, not
the came debt, but greater one. 1t
calls for more patriotism, more self
denial, and a truer vision to wage war
on distant shores then to repel an in
vader or defend ones home"
Answering those who, he said,
might think it improbable that Ger
many would attack the United States
if she won the war, Mr. Lansing cited
things of which Germany has been
guilty which were thought "improb-
able, yes, impossible" before the war
violation of treaties, the crimes of
murder, extortion and vandalism in
Belgium and France, submarine bru-
tally ard bomb-droppi.g or cities.
''Yet, God help us, these hi gs have
come to pass" he exclaimed, "and iron
crosses have been awarded the perpe-
traitors"
Giving Away America
"But there is more, far MORE" he
(which might be added to
this record of unbelievable things
which the German Government has
done. | only need to mention the at
Tempt of the Foreign Office at Berlin