The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-06-14


arms since the revolution
These are questions which must
be answered We are Americans.
We, In our turn. serve America
and can serve her with no private
purpose.
We must use her flag. as she
has always used II. We are nc
countahle at the bar Of history
and must plead In utter frankness
what purpose It is We seek TO
serve.
1T L. plain enough how we we're
forced into the war. Tho ertraor
binary insults and aggression OF
the imperial German government
left us no self.reApectins choice
but to take up arms In defense OF
our rights as free people and OF
our honor as sovereign govern
ment.
THE military masters OF Ger
trany denied us the right TO be
peuiral.
They filled our unsuspectlng
communities with vicious spies
and conspirators and sought to
corrupt the opinion OF our people
In their own behalf.
when they found they could
not do that their agents diligently
spread sedition amongst ua ana
sought 10 draw our own citizens
from their allegiance -and some
of these agents we're men connect
cd with the official embassy OF the
German government itself In our
own capital. They sought by VIC
lence TO destroy our industry and
arres, our commerce..
They tried to lncite Mexico 10
take up arms against us and 10
draw Japan into a hostile alliance
with her-and that not by indirec-
ton. but by direct suggestion from
the foreign office In Berlin. They
impudently denied us the use OF
the high seas and repeatedly exc
cuted their threats that they would
send n their death any OF our peo-
rie who venturcd To approach the
casts OF Europe.
And many OF our own people
we're corrupted Men began to
look upon their own nelghbors
with suspicion and TO wonder In
their hot resentment and surprise
whether there was any community
in which hostile intrigue did not
work.
what great nation in such cir
cumstances would not have taken
up arms?
Much as we desired peace. II
was denied US and not OF our
choice. This flag under which We
serve would have been dishonorcd
had we withheld our hand.
But that rs only part OF the
story. We know now las clearly
No We knew before we were our.
selves engaged that We were not
the enemies OF the German people
and that they are not our enemies.
They aid not originate or de-
sire this hideOus war or wish that
We should be drawn into IL: and
We are vaguely conscious that We
are fighting their cause. as they
will some day see It as well as our
own. They are themselves In the
grip OF The same sinister power
that has now at last stretched its
ugly talons out and drawn blood
from us.
"The whole world 10 at war be-
cause the whole world Is In the
Grip Of that power and Is trying out
the great battle which shall deter
mine whether ID is 10 be brought
under its mastery or fling Itself
I free.
German Milltarists Begin War
THE war was begun by the mil
itary masters OF Germany who
Lroved to be also the masters of
Austria.Hungary. These men have
never regarded nations as peoples.
men. women and children of like
blood and frame as themselves,
ior whom governments existed and
liza whom governments had their
life.
They have regarded them mere.
Ily as serylceable organizations,
which they could by force or in
t,igue bend or corrupt to their
own purpose.
"They have regarded the smaller
states In particular, and the PEG
Ipes who could be overwhelmed
by force az their natural tools and
instruments OF domination. Their
purpose has been long avowed.
"The statesmen of other nations
To whom that purpose was lncred
IDLE, paid little attention; regard
cd what German professors ex
founded In their class rooms and
lCerman writer's set forth to the
orld as the goal of German policy
rather the dream OF minds de