Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-04-06


he paid for; the lives of peaceful and
innocent people cannot be. The pres
ent German submarine warfare against
commerce is warfare against man
kind
1T is war against all nations.
American ships have been sunk, Amer
lean lives taken. in ways which it has
stirred us very deeply TO learn Of, but
the ships and people of other neutral
and friendly nations have been sunk
and overwhelmed in the waters in the
same way.
There has been no discrimination.
The challenge is to all mankind. Each
nation must decide for itself how il
will meet it, The choice we make for
ourselves must he made with mod
Grafton of counsel and a temperateness
of judgment betitting our character
and motives as nation. We must pun
excited feelings away. Our motive will
not be revenge or the victorious asser-
tion of the physical might of the ma
tion. but only the vindication of right,
of which we are only single cham
pion.
when | addressed the congress on
the 18th day of February last, thought
that it would suffice to assert our neu-
tral rights with arms. our right TO use
the seas against unlawful Interference.
our right to keep our people safe
against unlawful violence.
But armed neutrality it now ap-
pears. is inpracticable. Because sub
marines are in effect outlaws when
used against merchant shipping, it is
impossible to defend ships against
their attacks"
Friendly to Germans.
Speaking of his feelings toward the
mass of the German people, OF German
intrigue in the United, States of the
recent overthrow of autocracy in Rus
sla of Austra's fairly good behavior
toward the United States. and of the
nations attitude toward German-Amer-
lean citizens. the president said:
I'VE have no quarrel with the Ger
man people We have no feeling
toward them but one of sympathy and
friendship Ii was not upon their ilu-
pulse that their government acted in
entering this war 1t was not with
their previous knowledge or approval.
1t was a war determined upon in the old
unhappy days when peoples were no.
where consulted by their rulers and
wars were provoked and waged in the
interest of dynastieS or Of little groups
of ambitious men who We're accustomed
to use their fellow Inen as pawns and
tools.
"Self-governed nations do not fill
their neighbor states with spies or set
the course of intrigue To bring about
some critical posture of affairs which
will give them an opportunity to strike
and make conquest.
Welcome to Free Russia.
Does not every American feel that
! assurance has been added to our hope
for the future peace of the world by
the wonderful and heartenng things
that have heen happening within the
last few years in Russia?
Russia was known by those who
knew ii hest to have been always in
fact democratic at heart in all the
vital habits of her thought. in all the
intimate relationships of her people
that spoke their natural instinct, their
habitual attitude toward life The
autocracN that crowned the summit of
her political structure. as long as 1t
had stood and terrible rs was the
reality of its power. was not in fact
p4rkyS ySsia in itrin laa or or
pose; and now il has been shaken
OFF and the great generous Russian
people have added in all their native
ma jesty and might to the forces that
are fighting for freedom in the world
for juctice and for peace. Here is
fit partner for league of honor.
Silent as to Austria.
"I have said nothing of the govern
ments allied with the Imperial German.
government because they have not
made war upon us or challenged us 10
defend our right and our honor.
Germans in America.
"We are. lei me say again. the sin
cere friends of lhe German people and
shall desire nothing so much as the
early re establishment of intimate rela-
tions of mutual advantage between us.
however hard it may be for them. for
the time being 10 believe that this is
spoken from our hearts.
1--WE have borne with their present
government through all these bitter
months because of that friendship
I'VE shall. happily. still have an op-
portunity 10 prove that friendship in
our daily attitude and actions towards
the millions of men and women of Ger
man birth and native sympathy who
live amongst us and share our life,
and we shall he proud 10 prove ii to-
wards all whQ are in fact loyal 10 their
neighbors and 10 the government in
the hour of test. They are, most of
them, as true and loyal Americans as
if they had never known any other
fealty or allegiance. They viii be
DroTupt IN S.aud with ne II, rahuL.iu