The Colorado statesman., 1917-11-10

Gentlemen of the Congress:
/ 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 constitutinnally
permissible that should assume the re-
sponslbility 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 1st
day of February 1t was it's purpose to
put aside all restraints of law or of hu-
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
ity with its promise. then given to us,
that passenger boats should not he
sunk, and that due warning would he
given to NIL other vessels which its
submarines might seek to destroy,
when no resistance was offered es-
cape attempted, and cnre taken that
their crews were given mt least n fnir
chance to snve their lives In their open
boats. The precautions taken were
meaEer nnd haphnznrd enough, ns wns
proved In distressing Instance after
Instance In the progress of the cruel
and unmnnIy business. but II certain de-
gree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside Vessels of every kind.
whatever their GnE, their character
their cnrGO, their destination. their
errnnd. 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 neu-
trails along with those of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief 10 the sorely bcrenved 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 unmistnknble marks
of identity. have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
of principle.
believe TINT such things would in fact
he done by amy government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
nntiOnnI law hnd Its origin In the Mt
tempt to set up some law which would
he respected and observed upon the
sens, where no nation hnd right OF
dominion md where lay the free high
why's 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
cIenr View, at Ienst, of whnt the heart
and conscience of mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation and necessity ana
because II had no weapons which II
could use Mt sea except these, which
It is impossible to employ as 1t is en-
ploying them without throwing to the
wind all scruples of humanity or of
respect for the UNDERSTANDINGS that
were supposed to underlie the inter-
course OF the world
I am rot now thinking of the loss of
property involved. immense and serious
as that IS. but only of the wanton and
wholesale destruction OF the lives OF
non com batants, men, women, and chill
dren engaged in pursuits which have
always, even In the darkest periods of
modern history, been deemed Innocent
and legitimate. Property can be paid
forj the lives OF peaceful md innocent
peonle cnnnot he. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
is n warfare against mankind.
1t is n war against all nations. Amer
fcnn ships hnve been sunk. American
lives tnken, in ways which II has
stirred us very deeply TO Ienrn of. hut
the ships mad people ofAother neutral
and friendly nntions have been sunk
and overwhelmed In the waters In the
same wny. There has been dis
criniinatlon.
The challenge Is TO all mankind
Each nation must decide for itself how
Il will meet II. The choice we make
FOR ourselves must be made with
moderation of counsel and n temper
ateness of Judgment behtting 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 right, of
which we are only single champion.
When 1 addressed the congress on
the 26th of February last / thought II
would suffice 30 assert our neutral rights
with arms. our right TO use the
against unlawful Interference, our right
TO keep our people safe against unlaw-
mi violence But armed neutrality. II
now appears is impracticable. because