Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-04-05
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il as a history making epoch has been
known in the past fifty years.
-tm pursuance to the caifof President
Wilson, Congress met in extra session
last Monday. and after the House had
ttUeeH organized The President appeared
before the Senate and House in joint SEES
sion and made a statement concerning
rthe relations of the United States and
Germany. His presentation OF the facts
was most impressively delivered and was
received by the distinguished body with
the utmost seriousness. II is agreed that
the Presidents address was one OF the
ablest State papers that our government
has ever had before it for consideration.
The President asked Congress TO de-
clare that a state OF war exists between
the United States and Germany in these
words
with profound sense Of the solemn
and even tragical character OF the step |
am taking, and of the grave RESPONSE
bilities which il involves. but in unhesi-
tating obedience TO what | deem my.con-
stitutional duty, advise that the Con-
gress declare the recent course OF the i'm
perial German government to be in fact
nothing less than war against the govern
ment and people of the United States;
that it formally accept the status OF bel
ligerent which has thus been thrust upon
il and that il 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 EN-
pire TO terms and end the war;"
The President spoke in detail OF the
inhuman and illegal character OF the sub
marine campaign carried on by Germany,
of the destruction OF American ships and
the loss OF American lives. Armed neu-
trallty, he declared, has failed to meet
the situation, and there is nothing LETT
but to defend our rights by entering the
war. He said, 1--WE have no quarrel with
the German people. We have no feeling
towards them but one of sympathy and
friendship" and then asserted that the
present war was the action OF the ruling
class OF Germany that used the people as
pawns and tools TO carry out the designs
of ambitious groups OF autocrats. He
scathingy assaled the German govern
ment. saying:
Zone OF the things that has served to
convince us that the Prussian autocracy
was not and could never be our friend,
is that from the very outset OF the present
war il has filled our unSuSpecting COM
muniiies and even our offices OF govern
ment with spies, and set criminal intrigues
everywhere afoot against our national
unity of council, our peace within and
without, our industries and our commerce.
Indeed it is now evident that its spies
were here even before the war began;
and if is unhappily not a matter OF con-
lecture, but fact proved in our courts OF
Justice that the intrigues which have more
than once come perilouSly near to dis
turbing the peace and dislocating the in
dusirieS OF the country, have been car
ried on at the instigation, with the sup
port, and even under the personal direc-
ton OF official agents OF the imperial gov
eminent accredited TO the government OF
the United States"
President Wilson said that we now
have to accept the challenge OF the Ger
man government, "the natural foe to lib
ertY," so that the world may be made
safe tor democracy and that peace may
be planted upon the trusted foundations
OF political liberty.
The President recommends practical
cooperation in counsel and action with
the foreign governments already at war
with Germany, and liberal financial cred
its 10 them; organization and mobilization
OF our material resources full equipment
Of the navy, particularly TO deal with
submarine warfare; raising an army OF at
least 100000 men. based on the principle
OF universal liability raising necessary
funds for our government by equitable
taxation instead OF borrowing, if possible.
Yesterday the United States Senate, by
vote OF 81 TO 6, passed the resolution
requested by the President, declaring that
state OF war exists between the United
States and Germany, and il is expected
that the House of Representatives will
pass the measure today.
In the meantime our government is
rushing all preparations for war both on
sea and land, and all the resources of the
country are being utilized to put our army