Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-05

J. Bear and the still greater heritage of
a. feath stagger my mind. The awful
: ;sacritcc of live; that must follow sick
J..ens my heart sure many other
, Senator's feel As | do.
- eWe wan; no more territory" con
. tttinued Senator Hitchcock we VIII
demand no indemnity We have no
,t,lllstoric Grudee 10 settle nor racial an
s.tipathy. In this respect; we differ from
a-the other countries already involved
Snin. this awful struggle. There is Pan
.. SIavism against Pan Germanism Italy
ntWantS hack the Trentino: France her
sslpst prov inces: Great Britain has Ger
tTman commerce. and German colonies
z aAbnost in her grasp: Russia wants Con-
g Istahtinople and Germany, besides her
t.'place in the sun, wants to dominate
Europe
is. WITHOUT THOUGHT
OF POSSIBILITY OF GAIN
I'VE. OF all nations will spend our
treasure and blood and sacrifice
oIr lives without the thought Of posi-
hHity of gain. We arc going to war
to- vindicate our honor and indcpen-
dencc n great nation. and in defense
Of humanity.
Such quarrel as we have with Ger
many is not OF our choosing 1t was
forced upon us and we did much 10
avoid it. For nearly three years tho
President. Congress and the American
people have hoped to avoid it, But
one desperate act by the imperial
German government has followed an
other. I do not mean to say Germany
has desired war with us. do not
believe that. But the imperial Ger
lnan government has been desperate
and has taken desperate chances"
senator Hitchcock said American
neutrality had first been shocked by
tho invasion of Belgium; that the sink
ing OF the Lusitania almost led TO war
He said he did not consider that Ger
many had violated any pledges sho
gave after the sinking of the Lusi-
tapia, because she had expressly re-
served the right to revoke that pledge
Senator Hitchcock said no nation
could remain great and retain it's
honor by being dictated to by another.
Referring TO the nlibustcr against
the armed neutrality bill, Senator
Hitchcock said he had hoped that
2rmcd neutrality would avert war
"Cnfor,unatciy the opposition OF the
s5dtbuster resulted in word going ont
70 the world that the official branches
essQ1,. the government were at logger
heads" he said. The result has been
that our rights have been more i'm
posed upon than ever. Ave or six or
.avcn American vessels being sunk
some even returning TO this country in
ballast. Lives OF American citizens
have been lost. Armed neutrality has
passed IN cXpcdient against war
The American people have prayed for
months tina, war might be avoided
that II might not bc necessary TO make
the sacrifice for humanity
Used HIS INFLUENCE
TO PREVENT WAR
we have avoided war for two
wears. | have been bitterly opposed %
war. have used my influence to that
end. Even whcu knew the people
were calling for war and :, majority
of Congress overwhelmingly for it, I
sought out the President and begged
him 10 rcnst.n ieltscr. II possible. un-
der the policy Of armed neutrality as
an expedtent for peace But the Pres
3tsnt had information in his posses
-..sion which made IT impossible
This country is ready and Congress
Enready. While the vote has not been
Frnrorded, the decision has been made.
sItsis war.
~ cannot vote against war" Senator
Hitchcock said In conclusion. without
SlytnG vain and foolish thing II
sWpuld only serve to weaken my coun-
sHF in the face OF the enemy and the
sWorld when war Is inevitable l am
tready now 10 take my place with those
EY!ho VIII back up the President for
LITE honor and protection OF the ma
Ftign"
| nScnator Swanson said The German
government has repeatedly and gross
Y violated it's treaty obligations to
pr and Wantoniv broken solemn as
Etpa noes The issue is not peace or
#gsar. War has already been declared
hnon US. The issue is whether VIC
shall accept war or abject and coward
TX. submission
a5f,cciting the sinking OF American
ships, German plots and ou,rages in
This country Senator Swanson said the
Zimmernann plot 20 incitc Mexico
against THIS country reaches the low
est depths OF national turpitude"
The absurdity of the scheme" said
the Virginia Senator. does not lessen
its shameless cnornity. The fact tina,
itffell upon unwilling ears does no,
lessen our belief that the German gov
eminent. when opportunity presents
is twillirg 10 do US serious harm and
njschief.
I'VE have long suspected disposi-
ton by Germany 20 dispute the Mon
roc doctrine. Now is the time TO teach
this mischief making German govern.
nent that our territorial sovereignty
cannot he made subject 81 war bar.
gaining.
ADVOCATES OF PEACE
e. FAVOR SHAMEFUL SUBMISSION
,PThe advocates OF peace now would
place upon this nation the shame Of
= still greater submission They would
endure Htill greater aTronts and suffer
STILL greater submission"
a .Senator Swanson asked II the warn
s5AES given Germany against ruthless
t..slbmarine warfare were mere emptv
z sboasts and bluff the solemn voice
= lot a resolute people"
~ NO" he said. Congress will not by
r;owardly action declare that diplomatic
= SH)ly we roer and then when reburcd
3 strike with the gentle hand Of a