Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-04-06

victorious assertion of the physical
might Of the nation, but only the
vindication Of right, of human right,
Of which we are only single cham
pion," characterized it as a fight for
1.-The ultimate peace of the world and
for the liberation of it's peoples, the
German peoples included; for the
rights of nations great and small and
the privilege of men everywhere to
choose their way of life and obe-
dience," and declared that 'the
world must be made safe for democ-
racy."
President Wilson spoke as follows
II have called the congress into
extraordinary session because there
are serious, very serious, choices of
policy to be made, and made imme-
diately, which it was neither right
nor constitutionally permissible that
l should assume the responsibility of
making.
Reviews Recent Events.
"On the 3rd of February last,
officially laid before you the extraor-
diary announcement of the imperial
German government that on and
after the first day of February it was
its purpose to put aside all restraints
of law or of humanity and use its
submarines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports
of Great Britain and Ireland or the
western coasts of Europe or any of
the ports controlled by the enemies
Of Germany within the Mediterra-
mean.
THAT had seemed to be the OBJ
ject of the German submarine war
fare earlier in the war, but since
April of last year the imperial gov
eminent had somewhat restrained
the commanders of it's undersea
craft in conformity with it's promise
then given us that passenger boats
should not be sunk and that due
warning would be given to all other
vessels which its submarines might
seek to destroy, when no resistance1
was offered or escape attempted,
and care taken that their crews were
given at least fair chance to save
their lives in their open boats. Their
precautions taken were meager and
haphazard enough, as was proved in
instance after instance in
the progress of the cruel and unman-
ly business, but certain degree Of
was observed.
1.-THE new policy has swept every
aside. Vessels of every
kind, whatever their flag, their char
acter, their cargo, their destination,
their esrand, have been ruthlessly
sent to the bottom without warning
and without thought of help or mer-
cy for those on board, the vessels Of
neutrals along with bellig-
erents. Even hospital ships and
ships carrying relief to the sorely be-
and stricken people Of Bel.
GUM, though the latter were pro-
vided with safe conduct through the
prescribed areas by the German gov
eminent itself, and were distin-
guished by unmistakable marks Of
identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
principle.
AstOunded by Ruthlessness.
81 was for little while unable to
believe that such things would in
fact be done by any government that
had hitherto subscribed to the hu-
name practices of civilized nations.
law had had its origin
in the attempt to set up some law
which would be respected and OBJ
served upon the seas, where no ma
ton had right of dominion, and
where lay the free highways of the
world. BY painful stage after stage
has that law been built up, with
meager enough results. indeed, after
all was accomplished that could be
but always with
clear view. at least, of what the heart
and conscience of mankind de-
handed.
"This minimum of right the Ger
man government has swept aside un-
der the plea of retaliation and ne
cessity and because 1t had no weap-
ons which 1t could use at sea except
these, which 1t is impossible to en-
ploy as 1t is employing them without
throwing to the winds all scruples
Of humanity or Of respect for the
that were supposed
to 'underlie the intercourse Of the
world.
-"I am not now thinking Of the
loss Of property involved, immense
and serious a. that ia, but only Of
The wanton and Wholesale destxuc.
Hon Of the lives Of non-combatants,
men, women and children, engaged V