Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-04-05
PRESIDENT ACCEPTS GERMANN'S CHALLENGE FOR WAR

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
Challenges All Mankind.
There has been no discrimination.
The challenge is to all mankind. Each
nation must decide for itself how 1t
will meet it.
THE choice we make for our
selves must be made with q modera-
ton OF counsel and temperatures
OF judgment BETTING our character
and our motives as a nation.
I'VE must put excited feeling away.
Our motive will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion of the physical
might of the nation, but only the vim
dication Of right, Of human right Of
which we are only a single champion.
Outlaws In Effect.
when l addressed the congress on
the 26th of February last l thought
that 1t would suffice to assert our
neutral rights with arms, our right
reference, our right to keep our peo-
pie safe against unlawful violence.
But armed neutrality, 1t now appears.
Is impracticable. Because submarines
are in effect outlaws when used as
the German submarines have been
used against merchant shipping, it is
impossible to defend ships against
their attacks as the law of nations
has assumed that merchantmen would
defend themselves against privateers
or cruisers-visible craft giving chase
on the open sea.
1T is common prudence in such
circumstances, grim necessity indeed.
to endeavor to destroy them before
they have shown their own intention
They must be dealt with upon sight,
II dealt with at all.
Denies Rights to NeutraIs.
THE German government denies
the right of neutrals to use arms a.
all within the areas Of the sea which.
1t has prescribed. even in the de-
Tense OF rights which no modern pub.
licist has ever before questioned
their right to defend. The intimation
is conveyed that the armed guards
which we have placed on our mer-
chant ships will be treated as beyond
the pale Of law and subject to be
dealt with as pirates would be.
Armed Neutrality Futile.
ARMED neutrality is Intellectual
enough at best; In such circumstances
and in the face Of such preteusions
1t Is worse than ineffectual; it ts
likely only to produce what II was
meant to prevent: 1t Is practically
certain to draw us into the war with
out either the rights or the effective.
ness OF belligerents. There is one
choice we cannot make. wa are in
capable of making. We will not
choose the path of submission and
suffer the most sacred rights of our
nation and our people to be ignored
or violated.
THE wrongs against which we now
array ourselves are no common
wrongs; they cut to the very roots of
human life.
With a profound sense of the SOL
emn and even tragical character of tho
step am taking and OF the grave re-
sponsibilities which 1t involves. but In
unhesitating obedience to what 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 the people
of the United States;
That it formally accept the status
OF belligerent which has thus been
thrust upon It:
And that it take imme diate 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 and
end the war.
What Defense Involves.
What this will involve Is clear. 1t
will involve the utmost practicable
cooperation in counsel and action
with the governments now at war
with Germany. and. as incident to
that the extension to those govern
ments of the most liberal financial
credits. in order that our resources
may so far as possible be added to
theirs.
1T will involve the organization
and mobilization OF all the material
resources OF the country to supply
the materials of war and serve the
incidental needs Of the nation in the
most abundant and yet the most eco
nomical and efficient way possible.
1T will involve the immediate full
equipment Of the navy In all respects,
but particularly In supplying 1t with
the best means Of dealing with the
enemy's submarines.
Asks SOC, 600 Men.
1T will involve the immediate add.
don to the armed forces Of the United
States already provided by law in case
of war at least 100000 men. who
should. in my opinion. be chosen upon
the principle Of universal liability to
service and also the authorization of
snhsanuenf additional inrramontS NJ