The Washington herald., 1917-04-04
For Freedom and Civilization.
New York Timeal


New York Timca) H..
No government OF great people was
ever subjected to such a terrific indict-
ment as that which President Wilson,
with the full sanction and support Of the
American people. brings against the i'm
perial government of Germany in asking
Congress to declare that we are at war
with that country and to authorize him
to exert all the power and employ all
the resources of this nation to "bring
the conflict to successful termination"
The high crimes against humanity and
civilization Of which Germany has been
guilty have been committed in cold
blood. with purpose and calculation, and
in circumstances Of atrocity that have
horrified the world. 1t Is a tale often
told, Of which the President recites only
so much as Is necessary to the complete
ness OF a document which Is perhaps the
most convincing Justification Of war that
any nation has ever put forth in declar-
ing 1t. We know only too well the hor-
rors wrought In Belgium, We know that
vessels have been sent to the bottom
without warning and without thought of
help or mercy for those on board" we
know that relief ships bearing safe con-
duct and declaring their character by
unmistakable marks of identity have
been sunk with the same reckless lack
Of compassion or principle" 1t Is not a
civilized government. 1t is a monster of
autocracy beyond the order of nature,
that we are called upon to fight.
But however stern our denunciation of
these crimes against law and humanity,
they are but the evil flower of the poi
sonous tree which we now unite with
other great democracies to hew down and
cast into the fire. Our battle is with the
German autocracy. Of which President
Wilson's address is the doom. 1t was
not upon the impulse of the German peo-
Pile that their government acted in en-
tering this war" They had no previous
knowledge, their approval was not asked.
The autocratic government OF Germany
is the great criminal. there is the enemy
Of mankind.
Now Must the War for Liberty BE
Fought to Glorious Triumph.
New York Herald)
Admirable in its every line and its
every word is President Wilson's presen-
against the government that has forced
this country to take up arms by its ag-
sressions upon our liberty and the liberty
of the world and by its crimes against
civilization and humanity. The Presi-
dents arraignment of the militarism that
has made Germany outcast among ma
tions leaves no word to be added; his
appraisal of the sentiment which impels
the American people to the great sacri-
fee in behalf of liberty and civilization
is accurate. We have wanted peace; the
German government deliberately chose
war; we accept the gauge of battle with
this natural foe of liberty because the
alternative was supine submission to the
foe of liberty.
The distinction the President draws be-
tween the government of Germany and
the people of Germany Is one Americans
have been glad TO draw even at q time
when the people OF Germany choose to
give their support to the forces that are
making for their country's dishonor and
degradation. We have no quarrel with
the German people, but so long as they
remain under the domination Of Prussian
militarism they must be our enemies be-
cause. as lovers of liberty, we necessarily
are the foes of Prussian militarism.
New York Tribune.
No praise can be too high for the words
and the purposes of the President. Never
in all the long period in which he has di-
rected American policy has he seemed to
come nearer to the ideal of the Amerf-
can people, the ideal of President who
should lead. All over the world there will
be Americans who will find in the deci-
sion made by the President a cause for
new confidence and hope.
Boston Herald.
Altogether admirable in form and sub
stance are the words of the President.
BY putting It the American case
against Germany on humanitarian
grounds, he makes the offense Of Ger
many against the civilization Of the world.
and so establishes our duty to Join In
stamping out what Is in effect q piratical
attempt to destroy those righs and liber-
ties on the high seas which the long
course Of civilization has evolved and per-
fected.
Boston Post.
There can be little doubt that Con-
gress will Immediately translate the
Presidents request into legislated author
ity. Nor can there be any more who dare
to say that the people of the United
States will not stand with and for their
government The oral Stacker must
cease his pernicious work.
San Francisco Chronicle.
The President has resisted war until
he could resist no longer The Ameri-