Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-04-06

her purpose to pursue relentless and
inhuman methods of warfare; when
she moved to kill every neutral who
stood in her way to victory and went
so far as to seek to destroy the
United States itself, the president re-
luctantly came to the conclusion that
the nation had but one recourse left
to preserve it's honor and self-respect,
and that recourse was war.
The American people will never
appreciate the difficulties with which
the president has been beset. the
measures inaugurated to blur his
vision, the steps taken to induce him
to swallow any affrcnt, to permit any
i'.sn]t, the threats of political, even
personal, determination if he adopted
any other than a subm. ssive attitude
to Germany.
He has seen men in whom he
trusted fail to tell him the truth,
refuse to give him the benefit Of
their real Judgment. He has been
forced to listen to representatives in
the legislative branch of the govern
ment who placed German rights
above American rights and who re-
fused to lend him their support in the
protection of American honor and
American life.
Much Disloyalty Found.
He has found the governmental
departments honeycombed with pro-
German sentiment and handicaps
placed upon the most ordinary pre-
cautions he has directed be taken in
the interest of the nations safety.
He has seen defense measures killed
in congress. Even at this moment,
when the country should rally as one
man about the chief executive, he
has read statement by Senator
Stone, chairman of the senate for
eign relations committee, that he
will not vote for a declaration Of
war or a declaration of the existence
VI d StdtC VI wal.
When the history of the present
time is written, the world will know
Of the anxious thought the president
has given, not only to the policy to
be pursued with reference to Ger
many and to the International devel-
opments which will come from &C.
ton, but to the preparations advis-
able to make for the preservation
of internal order, the defense Of our
territory from attack and the asser-
ton of American rights upon the
high seas. He has considered what
a victorious Germany would do to
the United States, Germany impreg.
mated with hatred and with a de-
Termination somewhere to obtain q
place in the SUM-"
Defeat Of Germany Necessary.
No nation who has won in a war II
SO crippled that they cannot begin
another. Witness the strength Of
the Union following the suppression
LOT the rebellion and the instant com
lpliance of France and Austro-Hun
Igary with Washington's demands fol
the abandonment of their imperia
policies in Mexico. The safety Of thu
United States forced the inevitabl,
conclusion that only a beaten Ger
many could be depended upon t.
forego the ambitious designs which
Prussian militarism has forced upol
the patient and obedient German
people.
There we're other consideration
which compelled the president. t.
abandon peace for war, considera
tons Of the highest internationa
character, which have not yet beer
revealed and cannot be revealed unit
the president himself in time to com,
shall speak. 1t is SUFFICIENT to say
that by casting in American fortunes
with the allies he will dissipate for {
long time to come, perhaps forever
the Japanese danger. In fact, he vii
assure closer relations between thu
English-speaking peoples, relation,
which are certain to advance thu
Identical principles of their respect
i've governments and benefit human
ity and civilization throughout thu
world.