The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-02
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 2, 1917.
AMERICA FIRST.

When the hostile Indian sachems of Massachu-
sets bay sent their ambassador of the people
Of the struggling little colony at Plymouth Rock.
with his snake skin filled with in token of
their intent, and of the pacifiss of that day
had given expression their belief that was safer
to send back offerings in the way Of gifts old
Miles Standish cut short the debate by Selling the
snake skin from the hand of the waiting messenger
Jerking from it the arrows and examining it full OF
powder and ball. he handed it back to the astonished
redskn and said: Here is our answer take it
and go!"
Confronting the instructions from the German
war office to Ambassa dor Bernstorff to league
Mexico and japan in hostties against the United
States the authenticity of which document is
vouched for by the president, the house of repre-
sentatives yesterday solidified itself.
By vote Of Aos to 10, the house passed the bill
authorizing the president to arm American mer
chantmen against the menace Of the submarine
the high and voted hundred million dollars
for this and other emergencies that may quickly
arise.
Today the senate will pass the same bill, with
tho added authority to "other nstrumentali-
ties in of necessity, in which amendment
the house will tomorrow concur.
That Is the answer which the American congress
now makes to the instructions sent on January 10
by Foreign Minister zimmerman to Ambassador
Bernstorff, made public for the first time yes
terday morning:
1--WE propose alliance the following
basis with Mexico; that shall make
together and together make peace. We shall
give general financial support and 1t is
derstood that Mexico is to &C conquer the
lost territory in New Mexico. Texas and
Arizona. The details are left to You for
settlement
"You are instructed to inform the prcsi-
dent Of Mexico of the above in the greatest
confidence as it is certain that there
will be outbreak of with the United
States, and suggest that the president OF
Mexico on his own initiative should
muncate with Japan suggesting adherence
at to this plan at the time Of
fcrng to mediate between Germany and
Japan"
If the lords of Germany have been mislrt
into the belief that the patient forbearancc of tn
people of the United States also meant impocn
division when patience should no longer becom
tolerable, the action of the United States congress
will disabuse their previous conclusion.
We do not for moment misunderstood tn
purport Of yesterdays action; neither do the gov
eminent inspired newspaper organs of the ruin
class in Germany Early this week the Cologn
Zcitung said:
1T is only due to lucky accident that
American ships have been sent to the
bottom. and unless American ships avoid
the danger zone the overt act is bound
come. There is doubt that the arming
of American merchantmen will mean a fight
between submarines and American vessels
which necessarily will produce a state Of
war"
No American merchantmen peacefully rursuir
it's ge-long right of navigating the high seas, ov
which no civilized nation has yet dared
assert the right Of sole sovereignty, since the PR
mitigation of the arrogant edict of Napoleon Bon
parte will attempt to interfere with the flag of
other nation until it is itself attacked
In that event. the guns provided for by the act,
OF congress yesterday will certainly be called in
use in defense of the right of any vessel floati
the stars and stripes the insignia of the so
creignty of the nation from whose ports she sa
and to which she holds allegiance
And the fun power Of this nation will back its
diyidual citizens in defending that right The act
OF congress means that the deliberate sinking o.
single ship flying that flag means trouble for
government that is Responsible for the act. -
"psauttful a. Flower to those who !ose it, I