The state herald., 1917-11-09

Vi tu6 SoHsTtSs-
have called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious, very serious. choices of policy to
be made. and made Immediately, which
Il 10 neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that should assume the re-
sponsibillty of making.
On the I'D of February last officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement OF the Imperial German
government that on and after the LIST
day OF February Il was it's purpose to
put aside all restraints OF law or of hu-
manity ana use Its submarines 10 sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports of Great Britain and
ireland or the western coasts of Europe
or any OF the ports controlled by the
enemies of Germany within the Medi-
terranean. That had seemed to be the
object of the German submar rne war
fare earlier In the war. but since April
of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders of Its undersea craft. in conform
ity with Its promise then givea to us,
that passenger beats .heslA sss be
sssk. asa that aus warning wssiA be
g1vea ts all sther Sessels which its
submarines might seek t. destroy,
whes ~ resistance wa- e6ereA or es-
espe attempted. sad rsre taken that
their rrewa were glves ~ least q fair
boats- The precastioas takes were
0eager aad haphsssra esosgh. - wss
proved II distressinE Iastaaee after
iastasee n the pregress sf the rruel
asd usnasly bssisess. bst . certain de-
Gree Of restraiat wss observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels of every kind
whateSs- sh-i- sag. their character
their rarx". their destinstisn. their
errnad. have heen ruthl.ssly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought of help or mercy for those
on board. the vessels OF friendly ncu-
trails along with those Of beliigerentr.
Even hospital ships asd ships carrying
relief To the sorely bereaSed nsd strirk-
- people Of Belgium. though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself SD were
aistisEuished b, ssmistakabIe marks
ef Identity. have been sunk with the
same reckless lack OF compassion or
Of principle.
! Was far = little while ssable so
believe that ssrh thisEs would II ssct
~ aese by aay government that ssA
hitherts sShs~sibed ts the hssssse
practices Of risiitsed nntions. Inter
astisnal law had Its origin In the at
~ respected asd observed upss the
sess. where "a sstioa hRd right Of
Asnsisiss ssd WHERE lay the free high
wsys Of The world. by painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
with menRer enough results. Indeed.
after all was accomplished that could
he accomplished. bUt always with =
clear view. ~ least. 81 what the heart
snd ~ousrtes~e Of nsaakiaA demanded.
This minimum Of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea Of retaliation and necessity and
because II had no weapons which II
could use Mt sea except these. which
II is impossible TO employ ss It II en-
ploying them without throwing 70 the
wind all scrupies Of humanity or of
respect for the Understandings that
were supposed to und-rli~ the inter-
course Of the world
I am not now thinking of the loss of
property Involved. Immense and serious
ms that II. hut only of tn. wanton and
wholesale destruction of the lives OF
non -combatants. men, women. ana chill
dren. easaaea h psrssits wht~h hsSs
si~ays. eses h The dsskest pesisAs sf
snsAsrs kistsry, kees deessea iass~est
ssA IeGttissste. Property rss ~ Paid
fer, the lives ss pesretst asa tsse~sas
people rsssss be. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
isA warfare against mankind.
u IL u war against all nations. Asser-
s~an ships have heea sssk, Amsri~as
Hives taker. ts wsys which u hss
stirred 10. s~v, deeply 10 t~sr~ ~. hat
the ships mad people ~ ether sswsv~i
aad friendly nstiOas have kses sssk
asd sSerw wheins~d IN the waters In the
ssss~ wsy. Tksse hiss b~es ss dis
~vtpsinasios.
The ~kRiiesGe ts se ell wsWwkisd.
Each nation must decide for Itself how
II will meet ~ The choice W. make
for ourselves must he made with n
moderation Of counsel and n temper
ntrnens OF judgment bentting our
character and our motives nr n nation,
We must put excited feelings away.
our motiv. will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion of the physical
might of the nation. but only the vim
dicntion Of right. Of human right OF
which we er~ only n single champion.
when I addressed the congress on
tho seth Of February last ! thought II
would rufiicc to nrrer, our neutral rights
with arms ewv right IN use tke sens
aasiHst wsiawfWt Interference, euv rinht
10 keep ssv peopie safe against ssis~-
fut stai~a-e. hut armed neutrality. II
ua~ oo,a n I'm ettCptts USr0UoS