The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-11-09

the 26th OF February last I thought n
would sufiice to assert our neutral rights
| Win arms, our right "a use the seas
against unlawful interference. our right
10 Keep our people safe against unIny-
tul violence. But armed neutrality, II
now appears, is impracticable. BecausC
submarines are I'm effect outlaws, when
use as the German submarines have
been used against merchant shipping
| II ~ impossible to defend ships against
| their attacks, NJ the law OF nations hns
assumed thNt merchantmen would de-
tend themselves against prIvnteers or
cruisers, visible craft giving chase up
ON the open sea. IL is common pru-
! dence I'm 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, if dealt with at all.
| Ihe German government denies the
| right or neutrals to use arms at all
within the areas of the sea which II
| mas 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 L. InefTec.
tuni enough NJ besti Ia such circum-
stances and In the fnce of such pretcn-
SlOns II II worse than ineffectuaIt II Is
likely only 10 produce what II was
meant 10 prevents II IL practically GER
tnin 20 draw us Into war without either
the rights or the effectiveness of the bel
ltgcrents. There H. one choice we can
not make, we are Incapable of mnkInEi
We viii not choose the path of submIa-
sion and suffer the most sacred rights
~ FaHH 0 Is.. i
nored or violated. The wrongs against
which we now array ourselves are no
common wronEs' they cut tO the very
roots of human life.
With n profound sense Of the solemn
and even tragIcaI character of the atep
! ann taking md of the grave RESPONSE
hllitieS which II InvoIves. but in un-
hesitating obedience to what I 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 il formally ac-
cept the status Of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon il; and that it
take immediate steps not only to put
the country in a 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 ana end the war.
What this Will involve is clear 1t
VIII involve the utmost practica BILE CO.
opera tion in counsel and action with |
the governments now n 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 he added to theirs
II viii involve the organization and |
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,
out particularly in supplying 1t with
he best means of dealing with the enc
nys submarines.
1t will involve the immediate addi-
ion to the armed forces Of the United
States. already provided for by law in
'ase of war, Of at least 500. 900 men.
who should in my opinion, be chosen
lpOn the principle of universal liabil-
ty to service and also the authorize
ion of subsequent additional incre-
nents Of equal force so soon as they
nay be needed and can be handled in
raining. -
II will involve also, of course, the
rranting of adequate credits to the
sustained, / hope, so far
is they can equitabIy he sustained by
he present generation, by weIl-cOn-
elved taxation.
I say sustained so far as may be
quItabIe by taxation, because II seems
o me that IL would he most unwIse to
'aSe the credits, which will now be
ecessnry. entirely on money borrowed.
4 Il N..Ewr 81
o protect our people, far ms we
may, against the very serious hard
hips and evils which would be likely
o arise out of the in nflatIOn which would
e produced by vast loans. /
In carrying out the measures by s
which these things are to he accom-
Iished we should keep constantly in {
lind the wisdom of interfering as lit {
le as possible In our own preparation
nd I'm the equipment OF our own mill I
lry forces with the duty--fOr II will q
e n very practical duty-Of supplying
he nations already Ht war with Ger
ANY with the materials which they 1
m obtain only from us or by our as v
stnnce. They are in the field, and we q
hOuld help them In every way 10 be /
RectIVe there. Il
'g. through the several executive de- T
lrtments of the government, for the v
OF your committees, t
ensures for the accomplishment of t
le several objects ! have mentioned. t
hope that It will he your pleasure to a
,nl with them M having been framed e
tier very careful thought by the r
-nnch of the government upon whom n
he responsibility of conducting the II
ar and safeguarding the nntiOn Will II
OSt directly fall. D
While we do these things, these deep Il
mOmentOuS things, let US be very Il
ear, aud make very clear to all the "
OrId. what our motives and our OBJ
cts are. My own thought has not d
,en driven from Its habItuHl and nor u
al course by the unhappy events of II
e last two months, and do not be- 81
we that the thought of the nation d
~ been altered or clOuded by them. j o
I'VE exactly the same things in mind IL
wv that ] had In mind when / nd v
Pssed the senate on the 22d of JAM II
v last; the same that / had in mind So
hen addressed congress ON the Sd OF M
.brunry and ON the Goth of February. fl
Ir object now, as then, IL to VindIcate
e principles Of pence and Justice Ia al
g life of the world against selfish NJ