The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-04-12

l6A by AmericAa fress AssociauoA
mainly or OF respect for the under
standings that we're supposed to un
derlie the intercourse Of the world.
II am not now thinking Of the loss
Of property involved, immense and
serious as that Is. tut only OF the
wanton and Wholesale destruction OF
the lives OF noncombatants, men,
women and children, engaged In pur.
suits whicn have always. even In the
darkest periods OF modern history,
been deemed innocent and legitimate.
Property can be pad for. the lives
OF peaceful and innocent can not be
The present German submarine war.
fare against commerce is a warfare
against mankind.
Armed Neutrality Ineffective.
when | addressed the congress on
the Gotta OF February last | thought
that II would suffice TO assert our neu.
trail rights with arms, our right to use
the seas against unlawful interfer-
ence. our right to keep our people
safe against unlawfu' violence. But
armed neutrality, II now appears. IL
impracticable. Because submarines
are in effect outlaws when used as
the German submarines have been
used against merchant shipping. II II
impossible TO defend ships against
their attacks as the law OF nations
Il fhnt Inn atvt,fo N
would defend themselves against pri-
vateers or cruisers. visible craft Civ.
ing chase upon the open sea II Ia
common prudence in such circum.
stances. grim necessity indeed, to ell.
deavOr TO destroy them before they
Tney must be dealt with upon sight.
II dealt with at all.
The German government denies
the rieht Of neutrals to use arms at
ell within the areas OF the sea whicn
II has prescribed even in the de.
tense OF rights which no modern put
licist has ever before questioned their
right to defend. There is one choice
We can not make. we are incapable o,
making. We will not choose the
path Of submission and suffer tho
most sacred rights OF our nation and
The wrongs against which we now ar.
ray ourselves are not common
wrongs: they cut to the very roots of
human life
Solemn Step Taken.
with a profound sense OF the sol.
emn and even tragcal character OF
the step | am taking and of the grave
responsibilities which II involves. but
In unhcsitating obedience to what |
deem my constitutional duty. | advise
that the congress declare the recoEt
course OF the imperial German gov.
eminent TO be nothing less than war
against the government and people Ct
the United States; That II formally ac-
cept the status OF 6elligerent which
has thus been thrust upon g. aid
that II take immediate steps not on. y
to put the country in a more thorough
state of defense, but also to exert all
its power and employ all of its re-,
sources TO bring the government OF
Germany 10 terms and end the war
what this will involve is clear. It
will involve the utmost practicable
cooperation in counsel and action
with the governments now at war
with Germany, and as incident t.
that the extension to those govern
ments of the most liberal financial
credits In order that our resources
may so far as possible be added to
theirs. II will involve the organi2a.
ton and mobilization of all the ma
terial resources of the country to sup
ply the materials of war and serve tie
incidental needs OF the nation in TIE
most abundant and yet the most
economical and efficient way possible
II will involve the immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects.
hut particularly in supplying II with
the best means OF dealing with tine
enemy's submarines. Il viii involve
the immediate addition 10 the armeI
forces of the United States, already
provided for by law in case OF war
at least 100000 men, who should. IN
my opinion, be chosen upon the prln.
cipal of universal liability TO service
and also the authorization of subse.
quent additional increments Of equal
force as soon as they may be neeied
and can be handled in training II
will involve also OF course, the grant.
ihs OF adequate credits to the govern
ment sustained. hope. 50 far as they