The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-11-09

wish 20 share with all free people. ",
shall, feel confident, conduct our Oper'
/ Rtions as belllgerents without passion
and ourselves observe with proud puno,
tilio the principles OF right and OF fail
play we profess 20 be fighting for
have said nothing OF the govern.
ments allied with the Imperial gov.
| ernment OF Germany because they have
not made war upon us or challenged
us TO defend our right and our honor
The rInn government has
Indeed, aVowed Its unqualified IndOrse-
ment and acceptance OF the reckless
nnd lawless submarine warfare, adop b
I'd now without disguise by the Imper-
inl German government, aud II has
therefore not been possible for this
government 90 receive Count Tarn0w-
ski, the ambassador recently accredited
Ia this government by the Imperial aud
Royal government OF Austria Hum gary
but that government has not nctunIIy
engaged In warfare against citizens OF
the United states on the seRH, aud
take the liberty, for the present nj
least, of pOstpOninE a discussion of our
relations with the authorities at VII
enna. We enter this war only where
we ARE clearly forced into II because
there are no other means of defending
our rights,
IL will be all the easier for us 20
conduct ourselves M beIllgerents In q
high spirit of right and fairness be-
c7use we act without nnimus, not with
rnmity toward people or with the
desire 20 bring any injury or dIsad-
vantage upon them, but only In armed
opposition 90 an irresponsible govern
ment which has thrown aside all con-
alterations of humanity md OF right
and II running amuck.
We are. let me say aEHln, the sim
cere friends Of the German people. and
shall desire nothing 50 much as the
early re-eAtRbIistment Of intimate reIn-
tiOns OF mutual advantage between us,
however hard II may he for them for
the time being 10 believe that this f.
spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with their present government
through all these bitter months be-
cause of that friendship, exercising n
patience and fOrbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
We shall happily still have nm OPP
pOrtunity TO prove that friendship In
our daily attitude and actions toward
the millions of men and women of Ger
man birth and native sympathy who
live among us and share our life, and
we shnll be proud 10 prove IL toward
all who are In fact loyal to their neigh
bOrs and 10 the government In the hour
of test. They are most of them as true
and loyal Americans as II they had
never known any other fenIty or al
leginnce. They will be prompt to stand
with us In rebuking and restraining
the few who may be OF different mind
and purpose. If there should he dis
loyalty, II Will he dealt with with =
hrm hand OF stern repressiOnG but IL |
II lifts Its head at all, II Will lift II
Dnly here and there and without cOun-
tenance except from Il InwIess and
malignant few.
II IL distressing and oppressive duty, !
gentlemen of the congress, which i
nave performed In thus addressing you.
There ARE, II may be, many months of
iery trial and sacrifice ahead of us.
4 is n fearful thing to lead this great,
peaceful people Into war, into the most
erribIe and disastrous of all wars, civ
llzntiOn Itself seeming TO be I'm the
balance.
But the right is more precious than
'ence, and we shall night for the things
which we have always carried nearest
ur heartS-fOr democracy, for the
fight OF those who submit to authority
o have voice In their own govern
nents, for the rights and liberties of
mall nations, for u universal dominion
{ right by such concert of free peO-
lie as shall bring peace and snfety TO
II nations and make the world Itself
( last free.
To such n task we can dedicate our
ives and our fortunes, everything that
re nre and everything that we have.
rith the pride of those who know that
he day has come when america In
rIvIIeGed to spend her blood and her
light for the principles that gave her
lrth and happiness and the peace
-hIcb she has treasured.
God helping her, she can do no other.