The Yale expositor., 1917-03-01

any time, If we are in fact, and not in
word, merely, ready to defend our ele-
mentary rights as a neutral nation. 1t
would be most imprudent to be unpre-
pared.
IL cannot in such circumstances be
unmindful OF the fact that the eXpi-
ration term of the present congress
is Immediately at hand by cOnstitu-
tional limitation, and that il would in
all likelihood require an unusual
len"th Of time to assemble and organ
lie The congress which is to succeed it.
81 feel that | ought, in view of that
fact, to obtain from you full and inn
mediate assurance of the authority
which | may need at any moment TO
exercise.
mo doubt | already possess that
authority without special warrant of
law by the plain implication of my
constitutional duties and powers; but
| prefer in the present circumstances,
not TO act upon general implication.
| wish to feel that the authority and
the power of the congress are behind
me in whatever it may become neces-
sary for me to do.
Must Act Together
1--WE are Jointly the servants of the
people and must act together and in
their spirit, So far as we can divine
and interpret it, No one doubts that
ii is our duty to do so.
ave must defend our commerce and
the lives of the people in the midst
of the present trying circumstances,
with discretion but with clear and
steadfast purpose. Only the method
and the extent remain to be chosen
upon the occasion, if occasion should
indeed arise
"Since il has unhappily proved inn
possible to safeguard our neutral
rights by diplomatic means against the
unwarranted infrngements they are
suffering at the hands of Germany,
there may be no recourse but to armed
neutrality. which we shall know how
to maintain and for which there is
abundant American precedent.
Hopes to Avoid War.
at is devOutly to he hoped that 1t
will not be necessary to put armed
force anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire IL, and
our desire is not different from theirs.
| am sure that they will understand
the spirit in which l am acting, the
purpose l hold nearest my heart and
would wish to exhibit in everything l
do.
II am anxious that the people of
the nations at war also should under
stand and not miStrust us. l hope that
| need give no further proofs and as
surances than l have already given
throughout nearly three years of anx-
ious patience that | am the friend of
peace and mean to preserve ii for
America so long as | am able.
II am not now proposing or con-
templating war or any steps that need
lead to it. I merely request that you
will accord me by your own vote and
definite bestOwal the means and au-
thority to safeguard in practice the
right of great people who are at
peace and who are DESTROYS of eXer-
cising none but the rights OF peace TO
follow the pursuits of peace in quiet
ness and good will-rights recognized
time out of mind by all the civilized
nations of the world.
War only for W!!fuI Act.
"No course of my choosing or of
theirs will lead to war. War can come
only by the willful acts and aggres-
sions of others.
81 believe that the people will he
willing to trust me to act with re-
straint, with prudence and in the true
spirit of amity and good faith that
they have themselves displayed
throughout these trying months, and
it is in that belief that I request that
you will authorize me TO supply our
merchant ships with defensive arms
should that become necessary, and
with the means of using them, and to
employ any other instrumentalities or
methods that may be necessary and
adequate to protect our ships and our
people in their legitimate and peace
full pursuits on the seas.
II request also that you will grant
me at the same time, along with the
powers l ask, a sufficient credit to en-
able me to provide adequate means of
protection where they are lacking, in
Guiding adequate insurance against
the present war risks.
Speaks for Human Rights.
81 have spoken of our commerce and
OF the legitimate errands of our
people on the seas, but you will not be
misled as to my main thought. the
thought that lies beneath these phrases
and gives them dignity and weight. 1t
is not of material interests merely that
we are thinking. II is, rather, of fun
dAmental human rights, chief of all the
right of life itself.
81 am thinking not only Of rights Of
Americans TO go and come about their
proper business by way of the sea, but
also of something much deeper, much
more fundamental than that. l am
fhinkinQ IF those riohtc Of humanity