The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-03-30
"A STATE OF WAR"

Congress Will meet IN eXtraordlnar,
session next Monday, at the call o
the President, to consider grave ques
lions in connection with the relations
existing between the United State
and Germany. The situation ha
reached a point where the Presiden
is convinced that the Congress SHOULD
be called upon to exercise its specia
province in dealing Herewith. Much
that is seen in the daily press and re-
ports emanating from the Nationa
Capital is speculative and reflective
That a estate of war" already exists
and that the late wanton torpedoing
and sinking of three American mer-
chant ships by German submarines
ships homeward bound, carrying no
contraband or little other freight
was an overt act of war, is popular
ly held by large majority of those
who have given international law
more or less attention. Whatever
may be said of other submarine activ-
tiles in the sinking of ships supposed
to be carrying munitions of war with
out search or warning, and the attend
ant loss of life of American citizens
and other non-combatant passengers,
or whatever excuses may be adroitly
framed for such acts, the sinking in
the circumstances of the three Ameri-
can ships two weeks ago has not on
ly the appearance of wantoness, but
of premeditated enmity and intention
to injure as well as insult the ma
tional pride of the United States.
The causes leading up to the pres
ent situation, from the sinking of the
Lusitania, Germany's acknowledge
ment of her violation of international
law, her promises of indemnity for
the lives of American citizens, and
her pledges thereafter to observe the
rules of warning and search, up to
the time when she repudiated these
pledges and the President severed
diplomatic relations because thereof,
are familiar to the reading public
from the Presidents communications
to Congress as we'll as from press
reports. There have been differences
of opinion among leading statesmen,
thinkers and philanthropists through
out the several phases that the vary
ing situation has taken--the hot re-
sentiment of the more quick blooded,
the shrinking of the pacifist and his
plea for peace at any price, the ill
concealed apologies of the pro-Ger-
man element, and the calm reflection
of the more conservative who would
uvoid war if it could be done with ma
tional honor and without supinely
to every indignity that any
nation. at war might see fit to infiict
upon us.
The President, we believe, has done
everything that a conscientious peace
loving patriot could do, to avoid war,
to maintain the sacredness of human
life and rights and uphold the honor,
dignity and good name of the United
States as a nation. His has been
no easy task or light responsibility.
Upon his shoulders has rested
heavier responsibility than is often
placed upon one in authority. Con-
lemned by superfcialists ignorant of
the momentous questions and intri-
late diplomatic situations with which
ne has had to deal, criticised by polit-
Ical opponents in attempts to gain
some purely partisan advantage,
and his intentions
doubted by some even of his own
party, the President has calmly braved
he tempest and never once lost his
bearing. He has stood, as our Gov
has always stood, for Amer
can honor and "the fundamental
lights Of humanity" chiefest of
which is life, without which there
an be no civilization" and this at
itude has brought us to the verge of
var with one of the European bel
igerents.
Now it is the province of Congress
o say whether it shall be war or a
acking down from the responsibility
those principles of government and
uman rights which have been our
cast and pride. What American cit
zen would shirk the situation which
not of our own nor
ne Presidents choosing, have thrust
pom us? sl'a9's hao1
There is great activity in army and
avy circles and the State National !
yards are being modified in readi-