Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-12

ted States and Germany. While the
news OF the summarizing of the steam
er Aztec-the first American armed
snip to sail into the war zone-was be-
ing told from mouth to mouth in the
capitol. the president, appearing be-
fore the House and Senate in joint
session, asked congress to recognize
and deal with Germany's warfare on
America.
The president said war with Ger
many would involve practical coopera-
, ton with the governments now at war
with Germany. including liberal finan-
clal credits. He urged the raising of
100000 men. and universal military
service. The president made it clear
ina no action was being taken against
the Austrian government and the 9TH
er nations allied with Germany.
President Wilson spoke as follows:
II have called the congress into ex-
very serious changes Of policy to be
made, and made Immediately. which it
was neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that should assume the
responsibility of making.
Cor the 3rd of February last
officially laid before you the ex-
traordinary encouragement Of the
on and after the first day of February
it was its purpose to put aside all re-
straints of law or of humanity, and use
it's submarines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports OF
G~reat'sritain and Ireland, or the west
ports controlled by the enemies Of Ger
many within the Mediterranean.
ut has seemed to be the object Of the
Gern1an submarine warfare earlier in
the war, but since April of last year the
imperial government had somewhat
restrained the commanders of its un-
dersea craft in conformity with it's
promise then given to US that passen-
ger boats should not be sunk, and that
due warning would be given to all 9th
er vessels which it's submarines might
seek to destroy when no resistance was
/, offered or escape 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 meaeer and haphazard
enough, ss was proved in distressing
instance after instance in the progress
of the cruel and unmanly business, but
a certain degree of restraint was OBJ
served.
The new policy has swept every re.
whatever their flag, their character
their cargo, their destination, their err.
rand, have been ruthIessIy sent to the
bottom without warning and withou'
thought of help or mercy for those or
board, the vessels of friendly neutral:
along with those of beltigerents.
"Even hospital ships and ships carry
ing relief to the sorely bereaved anc
stricken people of Belgium, though the
latter were provided with safe conduc'
through the prescribed areas by tn:
German government itself, and wer,
distinguished by un~mistakable mark.
Of identity, have been sunk with
reckless lack OF compassion or prin
ciple.
81 was a little while unable to beiiev'
that such things would IN fact be don.
by n government that had hitherto
subscribed to the humane practices o
civilized nations. international law hae
its origin in the attempt to set up SOM
law, which would be respected and OBJ
had right of domination and where la,
the free highways of the world. 3,
painful stage after stage has the Law
been built up with meager enough re
suits, indeed, after all VAS accomplished
that could be accomplished, but Away!
with a clear view, at least, of what tn,
heart and conscience Of mankind de
manded.
"This minimum Of right the Ger
man government has swept aside un'
der the plea Of retaliation and necessity
and because it had no weapons which i
could use at sea except these, which i
is impossible to employ as it is employ
winds all scruples of humanity or O
respect for the understandings tina
were supposed to underlie the inter,
course of the world.
81 am not now thinking of the los,
Of property involved, immense and Sc
rious as hat is, but only Of the wantos
and wholesale destruction Of the live.
4. nj ~ rnnNN ~ n At nvtc NAN ~ - ~.
children, engaged in pursuits which
have always, sven in the darkest pc
RODS of modern history, been deemed
innocent NJ legitimate. Property car
be paid for; the lives Of peaceful ans
innocent people cannot be.
WAR AGAINST MANKIND.
The present German submarine war
fare against is a warfar,
against mankind. 1t is a war against al
nations. American ships have beer sunk
American lives taken, in ways which /
has stirred US very deeply to learn OF
but the ships and people of other neu
trail and friendly nations have beer
sunk and overwhelmed in the water.
in the am way.
"There has been no discrimination. Tn,
challenge is to all mankind. Each ma
ton must decide for itself how it will
meet it. The choice we make for our
selves must be made with a moderation
Of counsel and a temperatures of judg
ment BETTING our character and GU
motives as a nation. We must put ex
cited feelings away. Our motive will no
be revenge or the victorious asscrtio,
Of the physical might Of the nation
but only the vindication Of right, Of hu
man right, Of which we are only a singi,
champion.
SUBMARINES OUTLAWS.
when ! addressed the congress o,
the 26th of February last, though
that it would suffice to assert our neu.
trail rights with arms, our right to us,
the seas against unlawful interference
our right to keep our people SAT,
against unlawful violence. But arme,
neutrality, it now appears, is imprac
tieable. Because submarines are, in eff
feet, outlaws, when used as the Ger
man submarines have been use,
against merchant shipping, it is i'm
possible to defend ships against thei
attacks as the law of nations has as
sumed that merchantment would de
fend themselves against privateers o
cruisers, visible craft, giving chase up
pm the open sea. II Is common pru
dence in such OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ne
cessity, indeed-to endeavor to destro,
!! them before they have shown their owl