The Green Forest tribune., 1917-04-06

the individual citizens of civilized states
 "We have no quarrel with the Ger man people We have no feeling to- wards them but one of sympathy and friendship. It was not upon their in- pulse that their government acted in entering this war. It was not with their previous knowledge or approval. German People Not Consulted in War.
 Tt was war determined upon as wars used to be determined upon in the old, unhappy days when peoples were nowhere consulted by their rul- CTS and wars were provoked an waged in the interest of dynasties or Of little groups of ambitious men who were ac- pawns and tools.
 "A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except by a part nership of democratic nations. No autocratic government could be trust ed to keep faith within or observe it's covenants. It must be league of honor, a partnership of opinion. h. trigue would eat it's vitals away; the plottings of inner circles who could plan what they would and render ac- seated at it's very heart. Only free peoples can hold their purpose and i their honor steady to a common end and prefer the interests of mankind to any narrow interest of their own.
 Germany Had Spies Here Before War.
 'The autocracy that crowned the summit of her political structure, long as it had stood and terrible as was the reality of it's power was not in fact Russian in origin, character or purpose; and now it has been shaken off and the great, generous Russian people have been added in all their na- tive majesty and might to the forces that are fighting for freedom in the world, for justice and for peace. Here is a fit partner for a league of honor. "One of the things that has served to convince us that the Prussian au- tocracy was not and could never be our friend is that from the very out set of the present war it has filled our unsuspecting communities and even our offices of government with spies and set criminal intrigues every where afoot against our national unity of council, our peace within and with out, our industries and our commerce.
 Even in checking these things and ] trying to eXtirpate them we have sought to put the most generous in- depreciation possible upon them, be- cause i've knew that their source lay not in any hostile feeling or purpose of the German people towards us (who were, no doubt, as ignorant of them as we ourselves were), but only in the selfish designs of 9 government that did what it pleased and told it's people nothing. But they have played their i part in serving to convince us at least | that that government entertains no real friendship for us and means to 1 act against our peace and security at it's convenience. That it means to stir up enemies against us at our very doors, the intercepted note to the Ger quent evidence
 Can Never Be Friend of Germany i We are accepting this challenge of hostile purpose because we know that in such government, following such methods, we can never have a friend; and that in the presence of it's organ ized power, always lying in wait to accomplish we know not what pur- pose, there can be no assured secur- 1 ity for the democratic governments of ! the world
 Will Deal Firmly With DisEoyalty.
 "If there should be disloyalty, it will be dealt with with a firm hand of stern repression; but if it lifts it's head at all it will lift it only here and there and without countenance except from Q lawless and malignant few.
 1 Tt is distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the Congress, which I have performed in this ad- dressing you. There are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacri- | flee ahead of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disas- trous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance But the right is more precious than peace and We shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts-for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have voice in their own govern ments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for universal domin- ion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safe ty to all nations and make the world itself at last free.
 ''To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the princi pies that gave her birth and happi ness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other"