The evening world., 1917-06-14
Y YOPK'S LIBERTY LOAN TOTAL NEARING BILLION MARh

pose for which II has seen men-its
own ncn--die on every battlefield
upon which Americans have borne
arms since the Revoiutlon7
these are questions which must
be answered. We are Americans
We IN our turn serve America. and
can serve her with. no private pur-
pose. We must use her fag az she
has alwaya used Il. We account
able at tho bar OF history and must
plead IN utter frankness what pur-
pose II Ia we seek TO serve.
"It 10 plain enough how we
were forced into the war. The
extraordinary insults and aggres-
sions Of the Imperial German
Government left W no seh're'
speetinu choice but 10 take up
arms in defense Of our rights as
= free people and Of our honor
as q sovereign Government.
"Ths military masters Of Ger
many denied us the riaht 10 be
neutral. They filled our unsus'
peetina communities with vicious
spies and conspirators and sought
20 corrupt the o-inion OF our
people IN their own behaN
when they found that they could
not do that. their agents diliaent'
Iv spread sedition among Ne and
aoooht tS draw our own otuEena
fron their aliooianee-and some
Of theaa AGENTS were men con-
nscted with the official embassy
Of the German Government tseh
here IN our own capital.
"They sought by violence TO destroy
our Industries and arrest our com
merce. They tried To incite Mexico t'
take up arms against uH ana 10 ara"
Japan into hostile alliance WIN nel
--and that. not by indirection. but DS
direct suggestion from Nhe Fo'e'sH
once in Berlin. -
"They impudently denied us the
use OF the high seas and repeatedly
executed their threat that they would
send to their death amy OF our people
who ventured 90 approach the coasl'
OF Europe. And many Of our oNr
people were corrupted. Men began le
LOOK upon their own neighbors WIZ
suspicion and TO wonder in their ho'
resentment and surprise whethci
there was any community 10 which
hostile intrigue did not lurk.
I'VE DESIRED PEACE. GUT "
WAS DENIED US"
What great nation In such circum'
stances would not have taken VI
arms7 Much as we had desired
peace, Il was denied us. and not OF oui
own choice. This nag under whlcl
we serve would have been dishonoret
had we withheld our hand.
But that 10 only part or the story
We know now as clearly as we knew
before we wero ourselves engage
that we are not the enemies o. th'
German people and that they are no
our enemies. They did not originate
or desire this hideous war or WIS.,
that we should be drawn into II; ani
we are vaguely conscious that We ar
flghting their cause, as they VIII som
day see It. as well as our own.
sThoy are themselves In the
orip OF the Same sinister power
that has now at laat stretehed
its ugly taions out and drawn
blood from us. The whole
world 10 at war because the
whole world is in the grip ot
that power and 10 trying out the
nroat battle which shall deter.
mine whether IL 10 10 be brought
under its mastery or Hing itself
free.
"1'he war was begun by the mliitar.
masters OF Germany. who proved u
be also the masters of Austria Hun
gary. These men have never regarded
nations as peoples. men, women ant
children OF like blood and frame ~
themselyes for whom KoyernulentI
existed and In whom government
had their life. They have regarded
them merely as serviceable organlEa
tions which they could by force or in
trigu0 bend or corrupt 90 their owl
purpose. They have regarded th'
smaller States. In particular and th'
peoples who could be overwhelmed bl
force. rs their natural tools aud In