Gilpin observer., 1917-11-08

nothing for ourselves but what we shall
wish to share with all free people, We
shall. feel confident. conduct our oper-
ations as belligerents without passion
and ourselves observe with proud punc-
tilio the principles of right and of fair
play we profess to be fighting for.
1 have said nothing ofethe 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.
indeed, avOwed its unqualified indorse-
ment and acceptance of the reckless
and 1awless submarine warfare, ad0pt-
ed now without disguise by the Imper-
ial German government, and II has
therefore not been possible for this
government to receive Count Tarn0w-
ski, the ambassador recently accredited
to this government by the Imperial and
Royal government of Austria-H Hungary
but that government has not actually
engaged in warfare against citizens of
the United States ON the seas, and
take the liberty, for the present at
least, OF pOstpOninx a discussion Of our
relations with the authorities at VI
emma. We enter this only where
we are clearly forced into 1t because
there are other means of defending
our rights.
II will be all the easier for us to
conduct ourselves belliEerents In .
high spirit of right and fairness be-
cause we act without aniinus, not with
enmity toward people or with the
desire to bring any Injury disad-
vantage upon them, but only In armed
opposition to an irresponsible govern
ment which has thrown aside all con-
siderntiOns Of humanity and Of right
and is running amuck.
We are, let me say again, the sin
shall desire nothing 80 much the
early re-estnblishment of intimate rela-
tiOns of mutual advantage between us,
however hard 1t may be for them for
the time being to believe that this II
spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with their present government
through all these bitter months be-
cause of that friendship, exercising .
patience and forbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
We shall happily still have an op-
pOrtunity to prove that friendship in
the millions of men and women of Ger
man birth and native sympathy who
live among and share our life, and
we shall be proud to prove II 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 true
and loyal Americans as II they had
never known any other fealty or al
legiance. They will he prompt to stand
with us in rebukinE and restraining
the few who may he of a diMerent mind
and purpose. II there should be dis
loyalty, 1t will be dealt with with q
hrm hand of stern repressiony but II
1t lifts its head at all, 1t will lift II
only here and there and without c0un-
tenance except from = lawless and
malignant few.
1t IL a distressing and oppressive duty,
nf he hlOI. I
have performed in thus addressing you.
There are, 1t may be. many months of
fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of
II IL fearful thing to lead this great,
peaceful people into war, Into the most
terrible and disastrous of all wars, civ
ilixatiOn itself seeming to be In the
balance.
But the right II 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 a voice in their own govern
ments, for the rights and liberties of
small nations, for a universal dominion
of right by such n concert of free peO-
pie as shall bring peace and safety to
all nations and make the world itself
at last free.
To such n 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 II
privileged to spend her blood and her
might for the principles that gave her
birth and happiness and the peace
which she has treasured.
God helping her, she can do no other.