The Harrison times., 1917-04-07

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friendship. II was not upon their I'M
pulse that their government acted IN
entering this war. II was not with
their previous knowledge or approval
German People Not Consulted in War
1T was a war determined upon as
wars used to be determined upon in
the old, unhappy days when peoples
were nowhere consulted by their rul-
erS and wars were provoked an wagcd
in the interest Of dynasties or of little
groups of ambitious men who were ac-
custoned to use their fellowmen as
pawns and tools.
"A steadfast concert for peace can
never be maintained except by part
nership of democratic nations. No
autocratic government could be trust
ed to keep faith within or observe its
covenants 1t must be a league of
| honor, partnership Of opinion, In
trigue would eat its yitals away; the
plottings of inner circles who could
! plan what they would and render aC-
! count to no one would be a corruption
seated at its very heart. Only free
peoples can hold their purpose and
their honor steady to a common end
and prefer the interests of mankind
to any narrow interest of their own.
Germany Had Spies Here Before
War
The autocracy T,.t crowned the
summit of her political structure, long
as it had stood and terrible as was
the reality of its power was not in
fact Russian in origin, character or
purpose; and now it has been shaken
off and the great, generous Russian
people have been added in all their ma
tive majesty and might to the forces
that are fighting for freedom in the
world, for justice and for peace. Here
Is fit partner for league of honor.
Zone 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 it has filled
our unsuspeCting communities and
even our Offices of government with
spies and set criminal intrigues every
where afoOt against our national unity
Of council, our peace within and with
out, our industries and our commerce
Even in checking these things and
trying to eXtirpate them we have
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
were, no doubt, as ignorant of them
as we ourselves were), but only in the
selfish designs of government that
did what it pleased and told its people
nothing. But they have played their
part in serving TO convince us at least
that that government entertains no
real friendship for us and means to
act against our peace and security at
its convenience. That it means to stii
up enemies against US at our very
doors, the intercepted note to the Ger.
man minister at Mexico City is elo-
quent evidence.
Can Never Be Friend of Germany.
1--WE are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
in such a government, following such
methods, we can never have a friend,
and that in the presence of its organ
lied power, always lying in wait to
accomplish we know not what pur-
pose, there can be no assured secur-
ity for the democratic governments Of
the world.
Will Deal Firmly With DisIoyaIty.
"lf there should be disloyalty, it will
be dealt with with a firm hand of
stern repression; but if it lifts its head
at all it will lift it only here and there
and without countenance except from
a lawless and malignant few.
ut is a distressing and oppressive
duty, gentlemen Of the Congress,
which | have performed in this ad-
dressing you. There are, it may be,
many months Of fiery trial and sacri-
flee ahead of us. 1t is a fearful thing
to lead this great peaceful people into
war, into the most terrible and disas-
trous Of all wars, civilization itself
seeming to 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 voice in their own govern.
ments, for the rights and liberties of
small nations, for universal domin-
ion Of right by such a concert of free
peoples as shall bring peace and safe
ty to all nations and make the world
itself at last free.
ITO such a task 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 is privileged to spend her
blood and her might for the princ
pies that gave her birth and happi
| oh, ,,h 10,