Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-03

Ter Ol conjecture Dul u ldCI pIONGu III
our courts of justice that the intriSues
which have more than once come
perilously near to disturbing the peace
and dislocating the industries of the
country have been carried on at the
instigation, with the support, and
even under the personal direction of
official agents of the Imperial German
government accredited to the govern
ment of the United States.
Sought to Be Generous
Even in checking these things and
trying to eXtirpate them we have
sought to put the most generous in
depreciation possible upon them be-
cause we knew that their source lay,
not in any hostile feeling or purpose
of the German people towards us (who
were. no doubt as ignorant of them
as we ourselves were), but only in the
selfish designs of a government that
did what it pleased and told it's people
nothing.
Hostile to u. S.
But they have played their part
in serving to convince us at last that
that government entertains no real
friendship for us and means to act
against our peace and security at its
convenience. That it means to stir up
enemies against us at our very doors
the intercepted note to the German
minister at Mexico City is eloquent
evidence.
I'VE are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
in such a government, following such
methods, we can never have a friend
and that in the presence of it's organ
lied power, always lying in wait to ac-
complish we know not what purpose,
there can be no assured security for
the democratic governments of the
world.
Accept Battle Gauge
I'VE are now about to accept gauge
of battle with this natural foe to lib
erty and shall, if necessary. spend the
whole force of the nation to check
and nullify its pretensions and it's
power. We are glad, now that we see
the facts with no veil of false pre-
tense about them. to fisht thus for the
ultimate peace of the world and for
the liberation of its peoples, the Ger
man peoples included; for the rights
of nations great and small and the
privilege of men everywhere to choose
their way of life and of obedience.
The world must be made safe for
upon the trusted foundations OF po-
litical liberty.
No Selfish Ends
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 sac
rifices we shall freely make. We are
but one of the champions of the rights
of mankind. We shall be satisfied when
those rights have been made as Sc
cure as the faith and the freedom of
the nations can make them.
Just because we fight without ran
cour and without selfish objects, seek
ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish to share with all free peo-
pies, we shall. l feel confident, con-
duct our operations as beIfigerents
without passion and ourselves observe
with proud punctilic 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 chal-
lenged us to defend our right and our
honor. The Austro- Hungarian gov
ernment has indeed, avowed it's un-
qualified endorsement and acceptance
of the reckless and lawless submarine
warfare adopted now without disguise
by the Imeprial German government
and it has therefore not been possible
for this government to receive Count
Tarnowski, the ambassador recently
accredited to this government by the
imperial and royal government of
Austria Hungary; but that govern
ment has not actually engaged in war
fare against citizens of the United
States on the seas, and take the lib
erty, for the present at least, of post
poning a discussion of our relations
with the authorities at Vienna.
Forced Into War
1--WE enter this war only when we
are clearly forced into it because there
are no other means of defending our
rights. 1t will be all the easier for
us to conduct ourselves as belligerents
in a high spirit of right and fairness
because we act without animus, not
in enmity towards people or with
the desire to bring any injury or dis
advantage upon them, but only in
armed opposition to an irresponsible
government which has thrown aside
all considerations of humanity and of
right and is running amuck.
I'VE are, let me say again, the sim
cere friends of the German people,
and shall desire nothing so much as
the EARLY establishment of inti-
mate relations 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 because of that friendship
exercising a patience and forbearance
which would otherwise have been i'm
possible.
I'VE shall happily still have an OPP
portunity to prove that friendship in
our daily attitude and actions to-
wards the millions of men and women
of German birth and native sympathy
who live amongst us and share our
life, and we shall be proud to prove II
towards all who are in fact loyal to
their neighbors and to the govern
ment in the hour of test. They are,
most of them, as true and loyal Ameri-
cans as If they had never known any
other fealty or allegiances. They will
be prompt to stand with us in rebuk-
ing and restraining the few who may
be of a different mind and purpose. If
there should be disloyalty. it will be
dealt with with a firm hand of stern
repression; but IL 1t lifts its head at
all, 1t will lift it only here and there
and without countenance except from
lawless and malignant few.
Many Months OF Trial
ut is a distressing and oppressive