The Carlisle independent., 1917-11-08
Gentlemen Of the Congress.

Gentlemen OF the Congress:
have called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious, very serious. choices of policy TO
be made and made Immediately which
IT IL neither right nor constftutionaIIy
permissible that should assume the re-
sponsibility OF making.
On the Sd OF February last I officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement OF the Imperial German
government that on and after the Ist
day OF February Il was its purpose TO
put aside all restraints OF law or Of hu-
manity and use Its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought TO approach
either the ports OF Great Britain and
Ireland or the western coasts of Europe
or any OF the ports controlled BY the
enemies OF Germany within the Medf-
terranean- That had seemed to be the
OBJECT of the German submarine war
fare earlier in the war. but since April
OF last year the Imperial goveruu ent
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders OF its undersea craft in conform
ity with its promise. then given to us.
that passenger boats should not be
sunk. and that due warning would be
given to all other vessels which Its
submarines might seek to destroy,
when NO resistance was offered or es-
cape attempted, and care taken that
their crews were given at least a fair
chance to save their lives In their open
boats. The precautions taken were
meager and haphnzard enough, as was
proved in distressing instance after
Instance in the progress of the cruel
and unmsniy business, bat certain de-
gree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels OF every kind.
whatever their flag, their character
laH-
errand. have been ruthlessly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought OF help or mercy for those
on board the vessels Of friendly neu-
trails along with those OF beliigerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief TO the sorely bereaved and strick-
en- people of Belgium. though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself and were
tinEuished by unmistakable marks
of identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack OF compassion or
OF principle.
was for little while unable to
believe that such things would In fact
be done by amy government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had its origin in the at
tempt to set mp some law which would
be respected and observed upon the
seas, where no nation had right Of
dominion and where lay the free high
ways of the world. By painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
with meager enough results. indeed
after all was accomplished that could
be accomplished, but always with a
clear view, Mt least. of what the heart
and conscience Of mankind demanded.
This minimum Of right the Germa n
I =
plea OF retaliation and necessity and
because 1t had no wea pons which it
could use at sea except these. which
IT is impossible to employ as 1t is en-
ploying them without throwing 10 the
wind all scruples of humanity or of
respect for the understanding that
were supposed to underlle the inter
course OF the world
am not now thinking Of the loss OF
property involved. immense and serious
az that is, but only OF the wanton and
wholesale destruction OF the lives OF
non-com batants. men. women. and chill
dren. engaged In pursuits which have
always, even In the darkest periods of
modern history, been deemed Innocent
and legitimate. Property can be paid
for; the lives of peaceful and innocent
people cannot be. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
IL warfare against mankind.
It is a war against all nations. Amer
team ships have been sunk, American
lives taken. I'm ways which II has
stirred ms very deeply to learn of. but
the ships mad people of other neutral
and friendly nations have been sunk
and overwhelmed in the waters In the
Same way. There has been NO dis
erfmination.
The challenge II to all mankind.
Each nation must decide for itself how
Ii will meet IL. The choice we make
for ourselves must be made with
moderation of counsel and a temper
ateness of judgment betting our
character and our motives as nation.
we must put excited feelings away.
Our motive will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion of the physical
might of the nation. but only the vim
dication of right. OF human right. OF
which we bre only single champion.
When I addressed the congress on
the zeih >: February last I thought II
would suffice to assert our neutral rights
with arms. our right to use the seas
against unlawful Interference, our right
10 keep our people safe against unlaw-
full violence. But armed neutrality. II
now appears. Is impracticable. Because