The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-04-05

ter or PURPOSE. and now il has aeen
shaken. ana the great, generous
Russian people have been added in
al their natite majesty and misht TO
the forces that are Gshtins Tor tree
dom In tie weird. ior justice and Tor
peace. Here is a fl partner for a
League OF honor
prussian Intrigue Exposed
One OF the things that has served
TO convince us that the Prussian au-
tocracy was not and could never be
our friend is that from the very out
set OF the present war II has filled
our unsuspecting communities. anu
even our Offices OF government, with
spies and set criminal intrigues every
where afoot against our national unity
OF council, our peace within and
without, our industries and our com
MERGE.
Indeed, II is now evident that its
spies were here even before the war
began, and II Ia unhappily not
matter OF conjecture but fact proved
in our courts OF justice that the in
trigues, which have more than once
come perIlously near to disturbing the
peace and dislocating the industries
OF the country, have been carried on
At the instigation, with the support.
and even under the personal direc-
ton, OF Official agents OF the Imperial
government accredited to the govern
ment OF the United States.
Even in checking these things and
trying to extirpate them we nave
sought to put the most generous IN
depreciation possible upon them be-
cause we knew that their source lay
not in any hostile feeling or purpose
OF the German people towards US
(who we're, no doubt. as ignorant OF
them as we ourselves were) but only
in the selfish designs OF a government
that did what IT pleased and told its
people nothing.
But they have played their part IN
serving TO convince us at last that
that government entertains no real
friendship for lis and means to act
against our peace and security at us
convenience. That II means to STIR
up enemies against US at our very
doors the intercepted note to the
German minister at Mexico City Is
eloquent evidence.
Challenge 10 Accepted
We are accepting this challenge OF
hostile purpose because we know that
In such a government, following such
methods, we can never have friend.
and that in the presence OF its or
ganized power, always lying in wait
to accomplish we know not what pur-
pose. there can be no assured Sc
curity for the democratic govern
ments OF the world.
We are now about to accept gage
OF battle with this natural foe to lib
erty, and shall, II necessary, spend
the whole force of the nation to
check and nullify It's pretensions and
It's power. We are glad, now that
we see the facts with no veil OF false
pretense about them, to fight thus for
the ultimate peace of the world and
for the liberation Of its peoples, the |
German peoples included; for the
rights Of nations great and small and |
choose their way of life and Of ODE
Hence. The world must be made safe
'or democracy. Its peace must be
planted upon trusted foundations OF
political liberty.
We have no selfish ends to serve.
We desire no conquest, no dominion.
We seek no indemnities for ourselves,
10 material compensation for the
'acriices we shall freely make We
ire but one of the champions OF the
lights of mankind We shall be sat
SIZED when those rights have been as
ecure as the faith and the freedom
II the nations can make them
No Fight With kaiser's Allies
! have said nothing Of the govern
nents allied with the imperial gov
rnment of Germany because they
ave not made war upon us or chal-
enged us to defend our right and our
onor. The Austro- Hungarian gov
rnment has not actually engaged In
warfare against citizens OF the Unit
d States on the seas, and take the
berty, for the present at least, OF
ostponing a discussion OF our rela-
Ions with the authorities at Vienna.
We enter this war only where we are
learly forced into II because there
re- no other means Of defending our
ghts.
We are, let me say again. the sin
ere friends OF the German people. i
nd shall desire nothing 80 much as
re early re establishment OF intimate (
slations OF mutual advantage be- 8
Teen us-however hard II may be
" them. for the time being. to be-
eve that this is spoken from our
carts We have horne with their