The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-02-27

la obtain from you full and Immediate
assurance If III" authority which | may
iir"rI at any moment I" exercise. No
!urIhl | :,lrcldy possess that authority
without Sp"ciIi warrant of law. by The
plain Implication Of lm% constitutions
duties and powers: but | prefer. in the
present circumstances not L" act upon
:, neral implication. | wish 10 feel that
the. authority and til" power nf the con-
;r"sS are behind mr in whatever il may
h"cnin. necessary for me TO do. We
are jointly tire servants Of the people
and must act together and in their spirit
50 far rs We can divine and interpret il.
Duty Is Plain.
NO one doubts that ii is our duty
to do so. We must Gclrnd our COM
ncrC- and the lives of our people in
the midst Of the present trying cir
cumslancrS, with discretion but with
clear and stradtast purpose. only tn"
method and III" extent remain TO be
chosen, upon lii" occasion II occasion
should JUDGED arise. Since 1t has un-
happily proved impossible 10 safeguard
our neutral rights b. diplomatic means
against the unwarrantcd InirlngementS
they are suffering 1t the hand or Ger
many there may be no recourse but 10
armed neutrality. which We shall know
how to maintain and for which there is
abundant American precedent
1T Is dcvoutly to be hoped that II
will not be- necessary 10 put armed
force anywhere into action. The Amcrl-
can people do not desire 1t. and our
desire is not different from theirs. l
am sure that they will understand the
sririI in which | tin now acting the
purpose | hold nearest my heart ana
would wish to exhibit In everything J
do. am anxious mat In" people VI
: Tn" nations at war also ShCuid uhueE
stand and not niSiruSt MS. nope tht'
, ! need give no further proofs anu as
sIrauccs that have already given
throughout nearly three years OF anN-
ious patience that / am The friend OF
u,.acc ana mean 10 preserve Ioi
America 81 long aS | am ahir. / am not
now proposing ar contemplating war -!
any steps that need lead to 1t. mere
, ~ rcuIlrSt that you. will accord ME ny
vour own vote alId definite brStuwai
the means and the authority 10 SAFE
guard in practice th" right OF 4 great
people VINO are at Hcac" ana VINO aIc
DESTROYS ct exercising none put INC
rights Of peace IL follow the purS
of prace in uu!ctne$S and COCO WI
rights recognized time out oil nina ny
agI the civilized nations of the Worlu.
~ course Of my choosing or OF l"tlta
will lead 10 war. War can come o"ly
by the wilful acts and aEEresS'ohs VI
others.
No Definite Forecast.
lynn will understand why ! can mars
IN definite PROPOSALS or forecasts OIL ac-
ton now and must ask for your support
ing authority in the most general tt'Hl9'
The form in which action ma! oeC",'lf
necessary cannot yet be furrSccn. DC
i've thnt the people will be- willing 10
irusr me TO act with restraint. Win
prudence and in the tru" spirit OF ashit3
and good faith that ,hey have the'tlstIN
, rs displayed throughout thcSe lr9 iitS
months; and 1t is in that brliel t.nt -
REQUEST that you Nill authorize me 10
sunnly our merchant ships with H@lc"
sivc arms should that be- necessary anu
wi,h the means OS using them ana ~
rmplny any other inStrumchtahtIes o'
methods that may Dc necessary anu 'ur
quatr /" protect on" ShipS anu pm"pi1 -,
their legitimate and peaceful purSult ~,
IN. s.aS | request also that YOU VII
prani ne at the same time along WIN
the powers ] ask - sufficient Crcu'l w
ruah i" me to pruyid ADEQUATE hl%tns
rf rrutrctinn where they arc lacKlne' IN
cludinG adequate insurance "H"''
present war rlSkS.' ,I
II have spoken - our commerce an
Of The Legitimate" :!rnndS 81 our P:"Pij
on the seas. hut you vii not DE ili2tI.
rs Ia my main thought the thous"' t'.,,.
lies hrnp1th these. lhrnScS ana ElNrS
rncm dignity and weight. II is not ..
uatcriaI interests. merely That we aTS
! thinking II is rather Of iunuam'nth.
human rights chief of All inc rlsn. ~
life Itself. | am thinking, not ohlE ~
M, y
nbnul their proper. business by way or
The SEA. but also Of something, mucn
,lnrrar much more Fundamental thhii
rhat ] am thinking nf those rights OF
humanity without which there Is no CIV
ilizniinn. My theme is of those HreAI
,ririplns Of compassion and ol protet-
ton which mankind has sought TO lnro"
about human lives. the. lives OF non r,
complaints. the lives Of mon VINO are
,.,c,fulIv ut york keeping the induS,
rial processes Of in" world Guick, ana
y tul themselves nf women and chitdI'h
md of those who supply the labor
which ministers 10 their siiSteflhncc' W.
are speaking Of no selfish mhtrrInt
r!rhts bat nf rights which our hearts
SUPPORT and whose foundation IS lnnS
righteous passion for justice upon when
Mi lax. all structures alike of FANNY
of state and Of mankind must rest hS
urnu The ultimate baSr Of our assistance
and our liberty. | cannot imagine any
Nan with American principles at ms
hrart hcsi1atin:; 10 defend these things.
I|NFR IAn0NIA