Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-12-07

PIussian Military and Commercial
AutoCracy.
Washington, Dec 4,-president Will
son today addressed TO the world
Americas renewed pledge to the cause
Of democracy Appearing before a
JOINT session OF the House and Senate.
the President delivered the message
which will set In motion the legisla'
tive wheels OF the Siyty.ffth Congress,
whose task II is to aid the countrys
military forces toward victory
Not since the President called upon
Congress for a declaration OF war on
Germany has he appeared under more
dramatic circumstances. From the al
lied diplomats In the gallery to the
khaki clad American soldiers, to the
French in their horizon blue, the Brit.
ish in their war regalia and 10 the
women spectators in the galleries
there was a touch OF war.
Vast throngs clamored for entrance
10 the Capitol Only those bearing
cards we're admitted But the gal.
ler'es were filled long before the time
for the Presidents appearance and
the women spent their time knitting
for the men lover there" who are wag-
ing the fight against Hohenzollernism,
/ Az the President began speaking. his
message was released for publication,
Following is the Presidents mes.
sage:
Gentlemen OF the Congress:
Eight months have elapsed since |
had the honor Of addressing you They
have been months crowded with events
OF immense and grave significance for
us. ! shall not undertake to detail or
even to summarize these events The
particulars of the part we have played
in them will be laid before YOU in the
reports Of the executive departments.
shall discuss only our present
outlook upon these vast affairs, our
present duties and the immediate
means ~ accomplishing the objects
We shall hold always in view.
shall not go back To- debate the
causes Of the war The intolerable
wrongs done and planned against US
by N" sinister masters Of Germany
have long since become too grossly
obvious and odious to every true
American to need to he rohearsed.
| s1 attlF I ~ do a a n
and with a very grave scrutiny our
detectives and the measures by which
we mean to attain them for the pur-
pose Of discussion here in this place
straight toward definite ends Our
object is, OF course. to win the war,
and we shall not slacken or suffer
ourselves to be diverted until il is
won But 1t is worth while asking
and answering the question When
shall we consider the war won?
United In Spirit ard Intention.
From one point OF view il is not
necessary to breach this fundamental
matter. do not doubt that the
American people know what the wal
is about and what sort Of an outcome
they will regard as a realization OF
their purpose in It.
AS a nation we are united in spirit
and intention. pay little heed &c
those who tell me otherwise, ! hear
the voices of dissent. Who does not!
| hear the criticism and the clamol
OF the noisily thoughtless and trouble
some. also see men here and there
fling themselves in impotent disloyalty
against the calm, indomtable power
OF the nation. | hear men debate
peace who understand neither its ma
ture nor the way in which we may
attain il with upifted eyes and unbro
ken spirits. But know that none o.
these speak for the nation. They de
not touch the heart of anything They
nav safely be left to strut their un
easy hour and be forgotten
But from another point Of view
believe that it is necessary 10 say
plainly what we here at the seat o
action consider the war to be for anC
what part we mean to play in the set
Element of its searching issues. W.
are the spokesman of the American
people, and they have right to know
whether their purpose is ours
Desire Defeat Of Sinister Forcss
They desire peace by the overcom
ing Of evil, by the defeat once for al
OF the sinister forces that interrupt
peace and render it impossible, anC
they wish to know how closely ouI
thought runs with theirs and wha
action we propose They are impa