Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-03

not IN any hostile feeling or purpose
OF the German people towards us
(who were no doubt as ignorant OF
them as we ourselves were), but only
in the selfish designs of government
that did what it pleased and told its
people nothing. They have played
their part in serving to convince us
at last that that government enter
tains no real friendship for us and
means to act against our peace and
security at its convenience. That it
means to stir up enemies against us
at our very doors the intercepted note
to the German minister at Mexico
City is eloquent evidence.
Accept the Challenge.
1--WE are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose, because we know that
in such a government following such
methods, we can never have friend,
and that in the presence of its or
ganized power, always lying in wait
to accomplish we know not what pur-
pose, there can be no assured security
for the democratic government Of the
world.
1--WE are now about to accept the
gauge of battle with this natural foe
to liberty and shall, if necessary
spend the whole force of the nation
to check and nullify its pretensions
and its power. We are glad now that
we see the fact with no veil of false
pretense about them, TO fight thus for
the ultimate peace of the world and
for the Liberation of its peoples, the
German peoples included; for the
rights of nations great and small and
the privileges of men everywhere to
choose their way of life and obedi-
ence.. The world must be made safe
for democracy. Its peace must be
planted upon the trusted foundations
of political liberty. s .-. ..e
1--WE have no selfish ends to serve.
We desire no conquest, no dominion.
We seek no indemnities for ourselves,
no material compensation for the
sacrifices we shall freely make. We
are but one of champions of the rights
of mankind. We shall be satisfied
when those rights have been as Sc
cure as the faith and the freedom of
the nations can make them.
lust because we fight without ran
cour and without selfish objects, seek
ing nothing for ourselves, but what
we shall wish to share as free peo-
Piles, we shall, l feel confident con-
duct our operations as belligents
without passion and ourselves observe
with proud punctilio the principles of
right and of fair play, we profess to
be fighting for. vi 81: .
Il have said nothing of the govern
ments allied with the imperial gov
eminent Of Germany because they
have not made war upon US or ehal-
lenged us to defend our right and our
honor. The Austro-Hungrian gov
eminent has indeed avowed its TN
qualified endorsement and acceptance
of the reckless and lawless subma-
rine warfare adopted now without
disguise by the imperial German gov
,, eminent and it has therefore not been
possible for this government to re-
ceive Count Tarnowski, the ambas-
sador recently accredited to this gov
eminent by the imperial and royal
government of ria-Hungary; but
that government has not actually en-
gagged in warfare against citizens OF
the United States on the seas and
| take the liberty for the present, at
least, of postponing decision of our
relations with the authorities at
VIENNA. We enter this war only
where we arec learly forced into j
because there are no other means o.
defending our rights.
ut will be all the easier for us tc
conduct ourselves as belligerents il
high spirit of right and fairness be
cause we act without animus, not il
enmity towards people nor with tn
desire to bring any injury or disad
vantage upon them, but only in armed
opposition to an irresponsible govern
ment which has thrown aside all con
siderations of humanity and of right
and is running amuck.
1--WE are, let me say again, the