Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-12
GEMS FROM PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

VIII lIlS WAL ana nOtDlHS SIlalt TURN
us aside from it until it is accomplish
ed. Every power and resource we pos
Sess, whether of men, of money, or of
materials, is being devoted and will
continue to be devoted to that pur-
pose until it is achieved Those who
desire to bring about peace before that
purpose is achieved | counsel to carry
their advice elsewhere
Ask for War Against Austria Hungary
One very embarrassing obstacle that
stands in our way is that we are at
war with Germany but not with her al
lies. /, therefore, very earnestly rec
ommend that the congress immediate
~ declare the United States in a state
of war with Austria Hungary. Does
it seem strange to you that this should
be the conclusion of the argument |
have just addressed to you? 1t is not.
1t is in fact the inevitable logic of
what I have said. Austria Hungary
is for the time being not her own mis-
treSs but simply the VaSsal of the Ger
man government. We must face the
facts as they are and act upon them
without sentiment in this stern bust
ness. The government of Austria
Hungary is not acting upon it's own
initiative or in response to the wishes
and feelings of it's own peoples, but as
the instrument of another nation. We
must meet its force with our own and
regard the central powers as but one.
The war can be successfully conducted
in no other way. The same logic would
lead also to declaration of war
against Turkey and Bulgaria. They
also Are the tools of Germany. But
they are mere tools and do not yet
stand in the direct path of our neces-
sary action. We shall go wherever the
necessities of this war carry us, but it
seems to me that we should go only
where immediate and practical con-
sidel alton lead us and not heed any
others.
Will Battle Until Last Gun Is Fired.
1t is because it is for us a war of
high, disinterested purpose. in which
all ;he free peoples of the world are
banded together for the vindication of
right, war for the preservation of our
nation and of all that it has held dear
of principle and of purpose, that we
feel ourselves doubly constrained to
propose for it soutcome only that
which is righteous and of irreproaeh-
able intention, for our foes as well as
for our friends. The cause being just
and holy, the settlement must be of
liEe motive and quality. For this we
can fight, but for nothing less noble
OF less worthy of our traditions. For
this cause we entered the war and for
this cause we will battle until the last
gun is fired.
/ have spoken plainly because this
seems to me the time when it is most
Il ecessary to speak plainly, in order
that all the world may know that even
in the heat and ardor of the struggle
and when our whole thought is of car
rying the war through to its end we
have not forgotten any ideal or princi-
pie for which the name Of America has
been held in honor among the nations
and for which it has been our glory to
contend in the great generations that
went before us.
A supreme moment of history has
come The eyes of the people have
been opened and they see. The hand
of God is laid upon the nations. He
i'll show them favor I devOutly be-
lieve only if they rise to the clear
heights Of His own justice and mercy.
Voices of Humanity.
You catch, with me, the voices of
humanity that are in the air. They
grow daily more audible, more articu-
late, more persuasive and they come
from the hearts of men everywhere.
They insist that the war shall not end
in vindictive action of any kind that
no nation or people shall be robbed or