Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-11-09

iVE ourselves must be made with q
moderation OF counsel and a temper
ateness OF judgment behttinE our
character and our motives as a nation.
We must put excited feelings 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 light. OF
which we are only a single champion.
When / addressed the congress on
the 26th OF February last / thought IL
would sufice to assert our neutral rights
with arms. our light to use the seas
against Unlawful Interference, our right
20 keep our people safe against unIav-
tul violence. But armed neutrality. II
now appears. Is impracticable. because
submarines are IN effect outlaws. when
use NJ the German Hubmnrinea have
been used against merchant shipping.
u u impossible to defend ships against
their attacks. NJ the law Of nations has
assumed that merchantmen would de-
fend themselves against privnteerH or
cruisers visible craft giving chase up
on the open sen. II Is common pru-
dence In such circumstances. grim nee
essity indeed. to endeavor to destroy
them before they have shown their own
intention. They must be dealt with mp
on sight. n dealt with ne all.
The German government denies the
right OF neutrals to use arms at all
4 "ANNNA NhN hNNhH OF the sea winch u
mas prescribed even in the defense Of
rights which no modern publicist has
ever before questioned their right to
defend. The intimation is conveyed that
the armed guards which we have
placed on our merchant ships will be
treated as beyond the pale OF law and
subject to be dealt with as pirates
would be. Armed neutrality IL IneRec-
tuai enough al best, In such clrcum-
stances and In the face OF such preten-
Hions II II worse han In nectunlj II ~
likely only 60 produce what II was
meant 60 prevent IL n practically GER
tain 10 draw MS into war without either
the rights or the Effectiveness Of the bell
liEerents. There IN one choice we ran
MOI make, we are incapable Of makinEi
we VIII not choose the path of aubmia-
sion and suffer the most sacred rights
or our nation and our people to be ig-
nored or violated. The wrongs against
which we now army ourselves are no
common wrongs they cut to the very
roots of human life.
With "a profound sense Of the solemn
aud even tragieal character Of the step
] am taking and of the grave respOnsl-
bilitieH which II involves, but in I'M
hesitating obedience to what I deem
my constitutional duty. I advise that
the congress declare the recent course
OF the Imperial German government to
De IN fact nothing less than war
against the government and people OF
the United States; that II formally ac-
cept the status OF %belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon Il; and that 1t
take immediate 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 this will involve is clear. It
VIII involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation in counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many. and as Incident to that. the ex-
tension to those governments OF the
most liberal financial credits. in order
that our ma so far as pos
sible be added to theirs.
II will INVOLVE the organization and
mobilization Of all the material re-
sources OF the country to supply the
materials OF war and serve the incl
dental needs Of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
It will INVOLVE the immediate full
equipment OF the navy in all respects.
but particularly in supplying II with
the best means OF dealing with the enc
my's submarines.
II will involve the immediate add
ton to the armed forces OF the United
States, already provided for by law in
case Of war, Of at least 500, 900 men.
who should in my opinion, be chosen
upon the principle OF universal liabil-
ity TO service. and also the authorize
ton Of subsequent additional incre-
ments OF equal force so soon as they
may be needed and can be andled in
training.
IL VIII involve also, OF course, the
granting of adequate credits TO the
government, sustained, ! hope, 80 far
.. ah.u uuu ..uNa-huv -. ..aN..a -
the present generation, by weII-cOn-
ceiyed taxation.
say sustained so far M may be
equitable by taxation, because II seems
to me that II would be most unyylHe to
base the credits, which will now be
necessary, entirely ON money borrowed.
It n our duty, ] most respectfully urge,
To protect our people, so far M we
mny, against the very serious hard
ships and evils which would be likely
to arise out OF the Imitation which would
he produced by vast loans.
In carrying out the measures by
which these things are 20 he nccom-
plished we should keep constantly in
mind the wisdom of interfering az Ht-
tie ns possible in our own preparation
aud In the equipment Of our own mill
tary forces with the duty-fOr Il will
be Il very practical duty-Of supplying
the nations already NJ wa with Ger
many Win the mhteFluiA Nhicn NueN
cnn obtain only from us or by our as
~sistnnce. They are In the held, and we
should help them In every way 20 be
effective there.
I shall AXE the liberty OF suggest
ing, through the several executive de-
partmentA Of the government, for the
consideration of your committees,
measures for the accomplishment Of
the several objects ! have mentioned.
I hope that n will he your pleasure TO
Zeal with them nE having been framed
after very careful thouEht by the
branch Of the government upon whom
the responsibility Of conducting the
war and safeguarding the nation Will
most directly fall.
While we do these things, these deep
~ mOmentOuA things, let uH he very
clear. and make very clear To all the
world, what our motives and our OBJ
lecta are. My own hOuEht has not
been driven from Its hnbituHi and nor
nal course by the unhappy events Of
the last two months, and ! do not he
lieve thnt the thought Of the nation
has been altered or clOuded by them. I
have exactly the same things In mind
now that I had In mind when I nd-
dressed the senate on the 22d OF Jnnu-
- Hm.Ha a.. aanaa HhwH 4 had Nn uuNwh