Middletown transcript., 1917-04-07

|
erty and shall, if necessary, spend the
whole force of the nation to check and
nullify its pretensions and end its
power. We are glad, now that we see
the facts with no veil of false pretense
about them, to fight thus for the ulti-
mate peace of the world and for the
liberation Of it's peoples, the German
peoples included; for the rights OF
nations great and small ard the
privilege of men everywhere to choose
their way of life and of obedience. The
world must be made safe for democ-
racy. Its peace must be planted upon
the trusted foundations of political lib
erty.
No Selfish Ends To Serve.
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 sacri-
fees we shall freely make. We are
but one Of the champions Of the rights
Of mankind. We shall be satisfied
when these rights have been as secure
as the faith and the freedom of the
nations can make them.
"Just because we fight without ram
cour and without selfish objects, seek
ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish to share with all free peo-
Piles, we shall, feel confident, conduct
our operations as belligerents without
passion and ourselves observe with
proud punctilio the principles Of right
and of fair play we profess to be
fighting for.
II 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 Austro-Hung ngarian Government has
indeed, avowed its unqualified indorse'
ment and acceptance Of the reckless
and lawless submarine warfare adopt
ed now without disguise by the I'M.
perial German Government, and 1t has,
| therefore, not been possible for this
Government to receive Count Tarnow-
ski the Ambassador recently accredit-
ed to this Government by the Imperial
and Royal Government Of Austria-Hun
gary; but that Government has not act
ually engaged in warfare against cit1-
zens Of the United States en- the seas,
and take the liberty, for the present
our relations with the authorities at
Vienna. We enter this war only where
we are clearly forced into it, because
| there are no other means Of defending
our rights.
Germany Running .Amuck.
1T will be all the easier for us to
conduct ourselves as belligerents in
high spirit CT right and fairness be-
cause we act without animus, not in
enmity toward people or with the
desire to bring any injury or disadvan-
tage 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.
We are, let me say, again, the SIN
cere friends Of the German people, and
shall desire nothing so much as the
| early re-establishment Of intimate re-
lations Of mutual advantage between
us-however hard 1t may be for them,
/ for the time being, to believe that this
! is spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with their present Government
through all these bitter months be-
cause Of that friendship, exercising a
patience and forbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible. We
shall happily, still have an opportunity
! to prove that friendship in our daily
attitude and actions toward the mil
lions of men and women Of German
birth and native sympathy who live
among us and share our life, and we
shall be proud to prove it toward all
who are in fact loyal to their neigh
bors and to the Government in the
hour of test They are, most Of them,
as true and loyal Americans as If they
had never known any other fealty or
allegiance. They will be prompt to
stand with us in rebuking and re-
straining the few who may be OF
different mind and purpose.
"If there should be disloyalty 1t will
be dealt with with firm hand OF stern
repression; but If it lifts Its head at
all 1t will lift it only here and there
and without countenance, except from
lawless and malignant few.
Fiery Trial Ahead.
ut Is a distressing and oppressive
duty, gentlemen Of the Congress, which
have performed in thus addressing
you There are, it may be, many
months of fiery trial and sacrifice
ahead Of us. 1t is a fearful thing to
lead this great peaceful people into
war; into the most terrible and dis
astrous of all wars, civilization itself
seeming to be in the balance. But the
right Is more precious than peace and
we shall fight for the things which we
have always carried nearest our hearts
for democracy, for the right Of those
who submit to authority to have
voice in their own governments, for
i the rights and liberties Of small ma
tions, for a universal dominion OF right
by such a concert Of free peoples as
shall bring peace and safety to all
nations and make the world itself at
least free. To such task we can
dedicate our lives and our fortunes,
everything that we are and everything
that we have, with the pride Of those
who know that the day has come when
America Is privileged to spend her
blood and her might for the principles
that gave her birth and happiness and
al, ehA hnn