The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-15
Nation'S
Reason
,--~
For v ar
NO SELF RESPECT
OUT OF CONTEST
Sinister Power of Militarism
Has German People Them
selves in Its Grip.

WASHINGTON, June 14.-Amert-
cas- reasons for sending her nag
against-the fire Of the enemy across
the sea and the purpose she seeks
10 serve were stated anew by Presi'
dent Wilson today in a flag day al.
dress beneath the Washington monu-
ment.
Germanys military masters denled
the United States the right 10 De
neutral. the president said. and ny
eXtraordnary insults and aEgresslons
left lis no self-reSpecting choice Dut
10 lake up arms in defense OF our
rights as a free people and OF our
honor as a sovereign government
He recalled how the imperial gov
ernment had forbade Americans the
use of the high seas and time and
again executed its threat t send them
to their death: how it filled this un-
suspecting country with spies and con-
spirators and sought by violence TO
destroy industries and arrest COM
merce. and finally how the Berlin :
foreign office tried to inctte Mexico
and .Tapan into hostile alliance.
What great nation" he asked; in
such circumstances would not nave
taken up arms?"
Sinister Power.
Now that America has been forced
TO war. declared the president, sne
bids her young men 90 forth TO heht
on fields of blood far away for the
same old familiar. heroic purpose Tor
which il has seen its men die on
every hattie field upon which Amefl-
cans have borne arms since tne reVo
A sinister power,
he said w hcih has the German people
has stretched forth its ugly tlons anu
drawn blood from us. -,
"The whole world is AT war" he add.
cd, "brcause the whole world IS IN the
grip of that power and is trying out
The great battle which shall determining
whether it is 10 be brought under It's
mastery or fling itself free"
Peace lntrigues.
In giving warning that the Germans
actually have carried into execution
their plan TO hrow broad belt OF
military power across the center OF
Europe and into the heart of Asia, re-
iecting the idea Of solidarity OF races
and the choice Of peoples, Mr.. Wilson
smoke of the new intrigue for peace :.
now appearing in many guises at tne
bchest of the Berlin government. ~
cannot 90 further: it dare not. 20
hack" he said. 1T wishes TO close
lis bargain before il is too late and
It has little left 10 offer for the pound
Of flesh il will demand
Several hours before the president
smoke Washington had been drenched
with rain and peIted with hail. All
through the speech rain came down
softly and Secret service man nelo
an umbrella over the presidents head
while hundreds Of umbrellas hid the
faces of most Of the hearers. In spite
of the unfavorahle conditions the
crowd was large and applauded vigor.
ously. Secretary Lansing introduced
the president and most Of the mem
bcrs of the cabinet and others promi'
nent in official life were present. =,
WASHINGTON, D. c., June H.
President Wilson warned the Ameri-
can peuplc in Flag Day address on
the Washington Monument grounds to.
day that Germany has carried into Ell.
feet the greater part OF her immediate
plan of conQaest, and now is nego-
iiaring new intrigue OF peace" de-
signed TO end the war while her ag-
gressions are secure.
All tho Central empires, the Presi-
dent declared. have been cemented into
one great autocracy-ridden empire
Throwing broad belt of German mil.
itary power and political contro,
across tho very center Of Europe and
beyond tho Mediterranean INTO me
hcari of Asia" This accomplished, ne
said II is easy 10 understand why Ger.
(contiuued on Page Eleven.)