The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-03-02

c9on q any tine, II We are u fook,
~ not b word merely, 70 Aaeond
Eenr oSe0eatasy .rlghts ~ Q neo&sal
Haefca. Il woG11 ~ most tDpsn6sat
- - unpfeparod
& canAoe = suoA cztcunstancss -
unminAsnl of the 3ncf that the oxvar.
axioa q he tern q The present Co.
puas b Immediately ~ hand, BY co..
stitn1ionsl linttattons, ard that u
wo1l1 In Ill ltkolih0od require an ~
usgAl lengxh Of tiDs to assemble and
organise Tie Congr0ss which u -
ssoessd II.
] Ted that ought, IN view oG that
tact, 70 obtain from goa fun ard nm
uediats assurance q the authority
which may neod ~ any moment 70
sxsreass. No doubt already possess
that power without special warrant Of
war. By The plata Implication Of my
constitutional duties and powers, but
prefer, IN the present circumstances.
n0t 70 act upon general Implication.
wish 70 Seel that the authority and the
power of Congress are behind me I'm
whatever II may become necessary for
me 70 do We are Jointly the servants
Of the people. and must act togethsy.
and In their spirit. 70 far ~ we can
divine and interpret II.
No one doubts what II our duty. We
must defend our commerce and lives
Of our psople I'm the midst of the pres
eut trying circumstances, with discrs-
ton, but with clear and steadfast pur.
pose. Only the method and the extent
remain to b chosen, upon the occA-
si0n, u occasion should indeed arise.
Since II has unhappily proved impos
n kSS 80 l-A -
BY diplomatic means against the I'M
warranted infringements they are suf-
fering 1t the hanus OF Germany, there
may be no recourse but armed neutral
ity, which We shall know now to main
American precedent.
It 10 devoutly to be hoped that II
will not be necessary to put armed
force anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire 1t and
our desire ID not dilferent from theirs.
am sure that they will understand
the spirit In which I am now acting,
the purpose l hold nearest my heart
and would wish to exhibit In every.
thing do. am anxious that the peo-
pie Of the nations At war also should
understand and not mistrust US.
hope that need give no further proofs
and assurances than / have already
given throughout nearly three years
Of anxious patience that l am the
friend Of peace and mean to preserve
II for America 30 long az am able.
am not now proposing or contem-
plating war or any steps that need
lead to 1t.
l merely request that you viii &C.
cord me by your own vote and definite
bestowal the means and the authority
to safeguard In practice the, right OF,
. great people who are at peace and
who are DESTROYS OF exercising none
but the rights Of peace to follow the
pursuits Of peace In quietness and
good will-rights recognized time out
OF mind by all the civilized nations of
the world. No course of my choosing
or OF theirs will lead to war. War can
come only by the willful ncts and az
gresBions Of others.
You will understand why can
make no definite proposals. or fore
casts Of action and must ask for your
supporting authority In the most gem
eral terms. The form in which ac-
tion may become necessary cannot
yet be foreseen. / believe that the
people are willing to trust me to act
with restraint. with prudence. and In
the true spirit of amity and good
faith that they have themselves dis
played throughout these trying
months; and Il IL In that belief that
I request that you will authorize me
to supply our merchant ships with
defensive arms should that become
necessary, and with the means of
using them, and to employ any other
lnstrpmentalities or methods that
may be necessary and adequate to
protect our ships and our people In
their legitimate and peaceful pur-
suits on the seas. ] request also that
you will grant me at the same time,
along with the powers ! ask, o suffi-
cient credit to enable me to provide
adequate means of protection where
they are lacking, including adequate
Insurance against the present war
risks.
I have spoken Of our commerce and
Of the legitimate errands of our peo-
pie ON the seas. but you will not be
misled, as to my main thought. the
thought that lies beneath these
phrases and gives them dignity and
weight. It is not OF material inter
ests merely that we are thinking. It
Ia, rather, OF fundamental human
rights, chief OF all the right of life
itself.
/ am thinking not only Of rights Of
Americans to go and corle about their
proper business by way of the sea.
but also OF something much deeper.
much more fundamental than that. l
am thinking of those rights Of hui
mainly without which there is no
civilization.
Ny theme is of those great princ'-
pies Of compassion and OF protection
which mankind has sought to throw
about human lives. the lives OF nom
ccmbatants, the lives Of men who are
peacefully at work keeping the indus
trial processes of the world quick and
vital, the lives of women and children
and Of those who supply the labor
which ministers to their subtenance.
We are speaking of no selfish ma