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

nothing for ourselves but what we shall
wish to share with all free people. we
shall, I feel confident. conduct our oper-
ations as belligerents without passion
and ourselves observe with proud pune
lilo the principles Of right and Of fair
play we profess TO be lighting for.
I have said nothing OF the govern
ments allied with the Imperial gov
eminent OF Germany because they have
not made war upon us or challenged
us to defend our right and our honor.
The AuatrO-Hungarian government has.
Indeed, avOwed ita unqualified Indorse-
ment and acceptance Of the reckless
and lawleas submarine warfare, adopt
ed now without disguise By the Imper-
ial German rms and IL has
therefore not been possible for this
government 90 receive Count Tnrnow-
ski the ambassador recently accredited
60 this government by the Imperial and
Royal government Of AuHtrfa-Hunwnryt
but that government has not ~actunlIy
engaged In warfare against citizens o.
the United states on the sens, and I
take the liberty, for the present at
ienst, OF pOstponinE n discussion OF our
relations with the authorities at VI
emma. We enter this wal onIy where
we are clearly forced into IL because
there are no other means of defending
our rights.
- ~ WE MAA the GmNNEF Tor mn to
conduct ourselves na beIIiEerents in n
high spirit OF right md fairness he
cause we act without animuH, not with
enmity toward n people or with the
desire 90 bring any Injury or dIsad-
vantage upon them, but only IN armed
opposition to an irresponsible govern
ment which has thrown aside all con-
alterations of humanity and of right
and II running amuck.
We are 1ef me auw ,w.F- a. II
eere friends OF the Germnn people, md
shall desire nothing 80 much nH he
early re-estRblishh.eat Of Intimate reIa-
lions of mutual advantage between US,
however hard IL may be for them for
IA time being TO believe HAT this r.
spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with their present government
through all these bitter months be-
cause OF that friendship, exercising q
patience and fOrbeRrance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
We shall happily stlII have an op-
~pOrtunity to prove that friendship In
our daily attitude and actions toward
the millions of men and women of Ger
man birth and native sympathy who
live among us and share our life, and
we shall be proud 60 prove II toward
all VIII are In fact loyal TO their neigh
bOrs and TO the government I'm the hour
OF test. They are most of them M true
and loyal Americans M n they had
never known any other fenlty or al
leEiance. They will be prompt to stand
with MS in rebukinE and restraining
the few who may be of a different mind
and purpose. II there should be dis
loyalty, IL will be dealt with with n
hrm hand Of stern reprenHiOnt but ~
IL lifts its head AT all, II will lift Il
only here and there and withOu icOun-
tenance except from a IaWIess and
malignant few.
II II a distressing and oppressive duty,
gentlemen OF the congress-, which 1
have performed I'm thus addressing you.
Their are, Il may be, many months Of
hery trial and sacrifice ahead of MS.
II IN n fearful thing to lead this great,
peaceful people into war, into the most
terrible and disastrous of all wnrs, civ
iliAatiOn itself seeming 20 be in the
balance.
But the right Is more precious than
peace, and we shall fight for the things
which we have always carried nearest
our hearts-fOr democracy, for the
right of those who submit TO authority
to have n voice In their own govern
ments, for the rights and liberties of
small nations, for a universal dominion
OF right by such a concert of free peO-
pie as shall bring peace and safety to
all nations and make the world itself
at last free.
To such n tRsk we can dedicate our
lives and our fortunes, everything that
we are and everything that we have,
with the pride of those who know that
the day has come when America IL
privileged to spend her blood and her
might for the principles that gave her
birth and happiness and the peace
which she has treasured.
God helping her, she can do no other.