The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-04-06
The Worlds Worst Outlaw
Finally Forced the
Awful Step
ahe County Stands Almost Solldly
BsAssa The President in =
the Great Crisis

The Senate has passed resolutions
rccognlxing state OF war. g2 70 g. The
House will do likewise and then the
war win be on in earnest
An army OF million In TO be ns-
sembled and drilled. Young men from
is 10 20. unmarried win probably be
the first called, In addition 20 volun-
teers Of other ages
President Wilson went before Con,
ercss last Monday evening at $50 and
asked Congress 20 recognize the tact
that state OF war exists.
President wilson's appearance before
Congress was marked By "A scene OF he
greatest enthusiasm ever shown since
he began the practice OF delivering his
addresses IN person. Crowds on the
outside OF the Capitol cheered him
frnnticnlly as' he entered and as he left,
Congress- roarcd cheer after cheer In
an ontburst Of patriotic enthusiasm.
Prtsldent Wilson. said in part;
II have called congress into extraor-
dleary session because there are SER
loun, very serious, choices OF policy 10
be made. and made Immediately, which
Il was neither right nor constitutlonally
permissible that ] should assume the
responsibility OF making.
Refers To unrestrieted Warfare.
"On The third OF February last. Of
ficlaily laid before you the extraordi-
nary announcement OF the Imperial
German Government that on and after
the first day OF February II twas its
pnrposc 10 put aside all restraints OF
law or OF humanity and use It's sub
marines TO sink every vessel that sought
20 approach either the ports OF Great
britain and Ireland or the western
coasts Of Europe or any OF the ports
controlled By the enemies OF Germany
within the Mediterranean That had
seemed TO be the object OF the German
submarine warfare earlier In the war,
but since April OF last year the imper-
ial government had somewhat restrain :
"a the commandera OF it's undersea
craft In conformity with its promise
then given 10 us that passenger boats
should not be sunk and that due warn
ing would be given 10 nll others, when
no resistance was offered or escape at
tempted and care taken that their
crews were given AT least fair chance
10 save their lives In open boats. The
precautions taken were meager and
harhnzard enough, as was provided IN
distressing instance after instance In
the progress OF the cruel and unmanly
business. but certain degree OF re-
stralnt was observed.
Practice Wanton Slaughter.
"The new policy has swept every re-
strictlon aside Vessels OF every kind
whatever their flag, their character,
their cargo, their destination, their err
rand, have been ruthlessly sent 10 the
bottom without warning, and without
thought OF help or mercy for those on
board. the vessels OF friendly neutrals
along with those OF beiligerents. Even
hospital ships, and ships carrying re-
lief 10 the sorely bercaved and strick-
en- people OF Belgium, though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself, and were
distinguished by unmistakable marks oi
I identity have been sunk with the same
4 1reckiess lack OF compassion or OF prin-
1 ciple.
II was for little while unable to be-
lieve that such things would In fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations, lnterna-
tional law had it's origin in the al
tempt 10 set up some law, which would
be respected aud observed upon the
seas, where no nation had right Of
dominance and where lay the free high
ways of the world. By painful stage
after stage has that law been built ur
with meagre enough results, indeed, af-
ter all,was accomplished that could be
accomplished. but always with clear
view. at least, OF what the heart and
conscience OF mankind demanded.
scruples Are Thrown Aside.
"This minimum OF right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea Of oscillation and necessity. and
because IL had no weapons which II
could use at sea except these. which II
Is Impossible to employ as II is employ
ing them without throwing to the winds
OF scruples OF humanity or Of respect
for the understandings that were sup
posed to underlie the intercourse of the
world.
II am not now thinking OF the loss OF
property involved, immense and SER
ious as that is but only of the wantor
and wholesale destruction of the lives
OF noncombatants. men. women and
children. engaged In pursuits which
have always, even In the darkest per-
iods OF modern history been deemed
n innocent and legitimate, Property car
4 be paid for; the lives OF peaceful and
innocent people cannot be. 81
Warfare Analnst Mankind.
'The present submarine warfare