Middletown transcript., 1917-04-07

Washington. ~ President Wilson
Monday night asked Congress to de-
clare a state of war existing between
the United States and Germany.
President Wilson spoke as follows:
II have called Congress into extraOr-
dinary session because there are seri-
GUS, very serious choices of policy to
be made and made Immediately, which
1t was neither right nor constitutional
ly permissible that I should assume
the responsibility Of making.
"On the third Of February last,
officially laid before you the extraor
dinary announcement of the Imperial
German Government that on and after
the first day Of February it was its pur-
pose to put aside all restraints Of law
of humanity and use its submarines to
sink every vessel that sought to ap-
proach either the ports Of Great Britain
and Ireland or the western coast Of
Europe or any Of the ports controlled
by the enemies Of Germany within the
Mediterranean. That had seemed to be
the object Of the German submarine
warfare earlier in the war, but since
April Of last year the Imperial Govern
ment had somewhat restrained the
commanders Of its undersea craft in
conformity with its promise then given
to us that passenger boats should not
be sunk, and that due warning would
be given to all other vessels which its
submarines might seek to destroy,
when no resistance was offered or
escape attempted, and care taken that
their crews were given at least 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 in
stance in the progress of the cruel and
unmanly business, but a certain degree
Of restraint was observed.
Restrictions Swept Aside.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels Of every kind,
whatever their flag, their character,
their destination, their errand, have
been ruthlessly sent to the bottom with.
out warning, and without thought Of
help or mercy for those on board, the
vessels of friendly neutrals along with
those of belligerents. Even hospital
ships and ships carrying relief to the
sorely bereaved and stricken people Of
Belgium, though the latter were pro-
vided with safe conduct through the
prescribed areas by the German Gov.
ernment itself, and were distinguished
by unmistakable marks Of identity,
have been sunk with the same reck-
less 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 humane
practices of civilized nations. Interna-
tempt to set up some law, which would
be respected and observed from the
seas, where no nation had right of
dominion and where lay the free high
ways of the world. By painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
with meagre enough results indeed,
after all was accomplished that could
be accomplished, but always with a
clear view, at least, Of what the heart
and conscience Of mankind demanded.
"This minimum of right the German
Government has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation and necessity, and
because it had no weapons which 1t
could use at sea except these, which 1t
is impossible to employ as 1t is employ
ing them without throwing to the
winds all scruples Of humanity or Of
respect for the understanding that
were supposed to underlie the inter
course Of the world.
Lives WantonIy Destroyed.
"I am not now thinking Of the loss Of
property involved, immense and seri-
GUS as that is, but only Of the wanton
and wholesale destruction of the lives
Of non-combatants- women and
children, engaged in pursuits which
have always, even in the darkest
periods of modern history, been
deemed innocent and legitimate. Prop
erty can be paid for; the lives Of peace
full and innocent people cannot be.
"The present German submarine war
fare against commerce is warfare
against mankind. 1t is war against
all nations. American ships have been
sunk. American lives taken in ways
which It has stirred us very deeply to
learn Of, but the ships and people Of
other neutral and friendly nations
have been sunk and overwhelmed in
the waters in the same way. There
has been no discrimination. The chal-
lenge is to all mankind. Each nation
must decide for itself how it will meet
It. The choice we make for ourselves
must be made with moderation OF
counsel and a temperatures OF judg.
ment BETTING our character and our
motives as a nation.
To Vindicate Human Rights.
I'VE must put excited feeling away
Our motive will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion Of the physical
might Of the nation, but only the win.
dication of right Of human right, OF
which we are only a single champion.
"When I addressed the Congress on
the 26th Of February last. l thought
that 1t would suffice to assert our neu'
trail right with arms; our right to use