New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-11-09

0entlemen OF the Congress-:
nave called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious. very serious, choices of policy to
be made. and made Immediately. which
1t IL neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that l should assume the re-
s~ponsibility OF making.
On the Sd of February last I officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement of the Imperial German
government that on and after the LIST
day OF February It vas its purpose to
put aside all restraints Of law or of hu-
manity and use its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports Of Great Britain and
ireland or the westesn coasts of Europe
or n of the ports controlled by the
enemies Of Germany within the Medi-
~terranean. That had seemed to be the
object Of the German submarine war
fare earlier in the war, but since April
of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the
ders Of its undersea craft, in conform
ity with its promise. then given to rs,
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,
hen NO resistance was offered or es-
cape attempted, and care taken that
- CEe"b WITT 8hNCm ~ lCdut = IahE
chance to saw their lives in their open
boats. The precautions taken were
meager and haphasard enough, a. was
proved In distressing instance after
instance In the prOgress Of the cruel
and unmanly business, but q certain de-
gree Of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels of every kind.
whatever their nag, their character
their cargo. their de%stinatiOn, their
GRAND. have been ruthlessly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought of help or mercy for those
on board. the vessels Of friendly neu-
trails along with those of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief to the sOrely bereaved and strick-
en- people Of Belgium. though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself and were
distinguished by unmistnkable marks
Of identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless ack Of compassion or
of principle.
was for a little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
he done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices Of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had its origin In the at
tempt to set up some law which would
b. respected and observed upon the
seas, where NO nation had right Of
domination and where lay the free high
ways Of the world. By painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
with meager enough results. indeed,
after all was accomplished that could
be accomplished, hut always with a
view, At least, OF hat 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 1t had no weapons which 1t
could use at sea except these, which
1t is impossible to employ as it is en-
ploying them. without throwing to the
wind all scruples Of humanity or Of
respect for the understandings that
were supposed to underlie the inter-
Of the world.
I am not now thinking of the loss OF
involved. immense and serious
as that is, but only Of the wanton and
destruction of the lives Of
on-combatants. men. women. and chill
dren. engaged In pursuits which have
always, wen in the darkest periods of
modern history, been deemed Innocent
and legitimate. Property can be paid
FOR, the lives Of peaceful and Innocent
people cannot be. The present German
warfare against commerce
Is a warfare against mankind.
1t Is a war against all nations. Amer
lean ships have been sunk. American
lives taken, In ways which 1t has
vtirred us very deeply to learn Of. but
The ships mad people Of other neutral
md friendly nations have been sunk
md overwhelmed in the waters in the
uan,e way. There has been M dis
r~riminatlOn.
The challenge II to all mankind.
Zach nation must decide for itself how
{ will meet II. The choice we make
Tor ourselves must be mad with a
of counsel n a temper
Of judgment BETTING our
character and our motives as a nation.
must put excited feelings away.
Dur motive will not be revenge or the
assertion Of the physical
of the nation. but only the vim
of right. Of human right. Of
we are only a single champion.
When I addressed the congress on
he 26th of February last I thought 1t
sufice to assert our neutral rights
With arms. our right to use the seas
lgainst unlawful interference, our right
keep our people safe against unlaw-
al violence. But armed neutrality. 1t
low appears. is impracticable. Because !