The Elbert County tribune., 1917-11-09

tentlcmen OF the Congress-:
l have called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious. very serious. choices of policy to
be made. and made Immediately. which
II Is neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that should assume the re-
sponsibility of making.
On the Sd of February last I officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement of the Imperial German
government that on and after the LIST
day of February II was its purpose to
put aside all restraints of law or OF hui
manity and use its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to 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 Medi-
terranean. That had seemed to be the
object of the German submarine war
fare earlier In the war but since April
of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders of Its undersea craft. in conform
fty with Its promise, then given to us,
that passenger boats should not he
sunk. and that due warning would be
given to all other vessels which it's
submarines might seek TO destroy,
when resistance WINS offered or es-
cape attempted, and cnre taken that
their crews were given at least fair
chnnce to snve their lives In their open
nesger and hnphaxard enough, as was
proved in distressing instance after
Instance in the proEress of the cruel
and unmanly business, but n certain de-
gree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels of every kind.
whatever their nag, their character
their cargo. their destination, their
errand, have been ruthlessly' sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought of help or mercy for those
on board. the vessels of friendly ne,--
trails along with those of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief to the soreIy berenved md 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
distin KuiHhed by unmistaksble marks
of identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
of principle.
WINS for little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
be done by any government TINT had
hitherto Nubscribed to the humane
practices of civilixed nations. Inter-
national law had its origin in the Mt
tempt to sct up some law which would
be respected and observed upon the
sens, where NO nation had right OF
dominion and where lay the free high
ways of the world. By painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
with meager enough results. indeed
after all was accomplished that could
be accomplished. but always with n
clear view, at least, of what the heart
and conscience of mankind demanded
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation and necessity and
because It had no weapons which II
could use at sea except these. which
1t is impossible to employ as X is en-
ploying them. without throwing to the
wind all scruples of humanity or oi
respect for the understandings that
were supposed to underlie the inter
course of the world.
am not now thinking of the loss oi
property involved. immense and serious
as that is. but only of the wanton ant
wholesale destruction of the lives ot
n-combatants. men. women. and chill
dren. engaged In pursuits which have
always, even in the darkest periods Oi
modern history, been deemed innocen,
and legitimate. Property can be pale
fort the lives of peaceful md innocent
people cannot he. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
IL a warfare against mankind.
It Is war against all nations. Amer
acan ships hnve been sunk, American
lives taken. in ways which II ha'
stirred us very deeply to learn Of but
the ships mad people of other neutrn
and friendly nations nave been SUM
and overwhelmed in the waters in fhs
same way. There has been dis.
criminati3D.
The challenge fs to all mnnkin d
Each nation must decide for itself how
It will meet II. The choice we MAKE
for ourselves must be made with
moderation of counsel and a temper
uteness of Judgment BETTING oui
character and our motives as nation
we must put excited feelings away
Our motive will not be revenge or thu
victorious assertion of the physica
might of the nation. but only the win
dIcation of right. of human right o.
which we are only single champion.
when 7 addressed the congress OF
the 26th OF February last thought Z
would suffice to assert our neutral rights
with arms our right TO use the sen'
sxsfn.t urI.wfui interference. our rish
20 keen our people srfe against 1ninw
s.r xfoI~n.e. But armed neutrality. 1
now appears. is impracticable. Becaus'