The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-07

.
President Wilson's address to Con-
grcss, upon the convening Of the spc-
ciai session OF that body Monday was
as follows
Il have called the congress into ex-
traordinary session because there are
serious. very serious, choices Of policy
to be made and made Immediately
which II was neither right nor con-
stitutlonally permissible that should
assume the responsibility OF making.
"On the 3rd Of February last I
of'cially laidlbcfore you the extra
ordinary announcement of the i'm
perial German government that on
and after the 1st day of February
Il was Its purpose to put aside all re-
straiRts of law or of humanity and
use Its submarines to sink every ves-
sci that sought to approach either III,
ports OF Great Britain and Irelaud or
the western coasts of Europe or any
Of the ports controlled by the enemie (:
Of Germany within the Mediterranean
That had seemed to be the object Of
the German submarine warfare earue
In the war but since April Of last
year. the imperial government had
somewhat restrained the commanders
Of Its undersea craft in conformity
with its promise then given to us thai
passenger boats should not be sunk
and that due warning would be given
TO an other vessels which it's subma-
rInes might seek to destroy. when no
resistance was offered or escape at
tempted AMI care taken that their
crews were given ut least a fair
chance to save their lives In their
open. boats. The precautions taken
were meagre and haphazard enough
as was proved In distressing instance
after instance. In the progress of the
cruel and unmanly busineas. hut y
certain. degree OF restraint was Oh
served. The new policy has swept
every. restriction aside. Vessels of
every, kind. whatever their flag, their
character. rheir cargo. their destina-
tion.- their errand. have been ruth
lessly sent to the bottom with
out warming or mercy for those
on board, the vessels OF friend
" neutrels along. with those of bel
lisersnts. Even hospital ships and
ships carrying relief to the sorcly
bercavcd and stricken people OF Bel
gium. Though the latter wcrc pro-
vided with safe conduct through the
prescribed areas by the German gov
ernment itself and were distinguish
Oh by unmis.akabie marks of iden-
t!ty. have been sunk with the san,e
reckless lack of compassion or Of
principle.
II was for little while unable to
believe that such things would in
fact be done by any government that
had hitherto subscribed to the Iiu.
name practices Of civilized nations. in.
ternational law had its origin in the
attempt to set up some law which
would be respected and observed uror
the sea. whero no nation had righ. oi
dominion and where lay the free
highways Of the world. by painful
stage after stage has that law beer
built up with meagre enough results
Indeed after all was accomplished
that could be accomplished. but al
ways with clear view at least o:
what the heart and conscience OF
mankind demanded. This minimum
Of right the German government has
swept aside under the plea of re-
tsliation and necessity and because
u had not weapons. which 1t could
use at sea except those which it rs
impossible to employ as it is en-
ploying them without throwing to the
winds all scruples of humanity o. OF
respect for the understa ndings tha,
were supposed to underlie the inter.
course Of the world.
II am not now thinking of TIC
less OF property involved, immenis
end serious as that is. but only the
wanson and wholesale destruction OF
the lives OF noncombatants. men, wo-
racn and children. engaged i'm rur.
ruits which have always. even in the
darkest periods OF modern h.story
been deemed innocent and legitimate
Property can be paid for: the lives OF
rDaceful and innocent people can rot
re. The present German submarine
warfare against commerce is WY
fare against mankind.
1t is war against all nation A;