The Benson signal., 1917-03-03

come at any time, if we are in fact,
and not in word merely, to defend
our elementary. rights as neutral
nation. 1t would be most imprudent
to be unprepared.
| cannot in such circumstances be
unmindfuI of the fact that the eXpir-
alton Of the term OF the present Con-
gress is Immediately at hand, by con-
stitutiOnal limitations, and that it
would in all Likelihood require an un-
usual length of tine to assemble and
organize the Congress which is to
succeed it.
l feel that ought, in view of that
fact, to obtain from you full and i'm
mediate assurance OF the authority
which l may need at any moment to
exercise. No doubt l already possess
that power without special warrant OF
war, 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 Congress are behind me in
whatever it may become necessary for
me to do. 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 what is our duty. We
must defend our commerce and lives
OF. our people in the midst of the pres
ent trying circumstances, with discre-
tion, but with clear and steadfast pur
pose. Only the method and the extent
remain to be chosen, upon the Occa
sion, if occasion should indeed arise.
Since it has unhappily proved impos
sible to safeguard our neutral rights
by diplomatic means against the un-
warranted infringements they are suf
fering at the hands of Germany, there
may be no recourse but armed neutral
ity, which we shall know now to main
tain and for which there is abundant
American precedent.
1t is devoutly to be hoped that it
will not be necessary to put armed
force anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire it and
our desire is not different from theirs.
l am sure that they will understand
the spirit in which I am now acting,
the. purpose hold nearest my heart
and would wish to exhibit in every
thing l do. l am anxious that the peo-
pie of the nations at war also should
understand and not mistrust u.s.
hope that need give no further proofs
and assurances than | have already
given throughout nearly three years
| of anxious patience that | am the
friend of peace and mean to preserve
| it for America SO long as l am able.
l am not now proposing or contem-
|
lead to it.
merely request that you will ac-
cord me by your own vote and definite
| bestOwal the means and the authority
| to safeguard in practice the right of
a great people who are at peace and
who are desirous of exercising none
but the rights of peace to follow the
pursuits of peace in quietness and
good will-rights recognized time out
of mind by all the civilized nations Of
the world. No course of my choosing
or of theirs will lead to war. War can
come only by the willful acts and ag-
gressiOns of others.
You will understand why I can
make no definite proposals or fore
casts of action and must ask for your
supporting authority in the most gen
eral terms. The form in which ac-
tiona may. become necessary cannot
| yet be fOreseen. l believe that the
people are willing to trust me to act
with restraint, with prudence, and in
the true spirit of amity and good
faith that they have themselves dis
played throughout these trying
months; and it is in that belief that
request that you will authorize me
4 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 peaceful pur-
suits on the seas. I request also that
you will grant me at the same time,
salong with the powers I ask, a suffi-
/ eisnt credit to enable me to provide
| adequate means of protection where
they are lacking, including adequate
insurance against the present war
risks. -,~
1 have spoken of our commerce and
of the legitimate errands of our peo-
pie on the seas, but you will not be
misled as to my main thought, the
thought that lies beneath these
Ephrases and gives them dignity and
weight. 1t is not of material inter-
ests merely that we are thinking. 1t
is, rather, of fundamental human
rights, chief of all the right of life
! itself.
I 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. j
am. thinking of those rights of hu-
I ;maiiity : without which there is no
civilization.
My: theme is of those great prtnct-
4 pies of compassion and of protection
which mankind has sought to throw
about human lives, the lives of non
combatants, the lives Of men who are
peacefully at work keeping the indus
trial, processes of the world quick and
vital, the lives of women and children
and of those who supply the labor
which ministers to their subtenance.