Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-07
NO QUESTION OF JUSTICE
OF AMERICAS POSITION
Loyal Citizens, Unless Ignorant OF
Facts, Know How War Was
Forced Upon Country.
GERMANY MUST BE CRUSHED
World Conflict Is Struggle Between
Liberty and Tyranny, and Fate OF
Civilization Hangs In Balance.
Folk Tells "VVhy America Fights"
ny JOSEPH w. FOLK.

by JOSEPH w. FOLK,
Ex-Governor Of Missouri, Chief Coun-
sci OF the Interstnte Commerce COM
mission.
No good American can question the
Justice OF our entering tho war with
Germany. unless he be ignorant of
why we did so. We have vowed for
years tho preparations for war being
made by Germany. little dreaming that
they might concern US. though occa-
sionally there was apprehension as to
the ambition of the German rulers
to BIO to the modern world what tn.
Roman rulers were to the world of
their time. When the day camo for
which Germany had been 80 long pre-.
pairing. she suddenly hurled her tre-
mcndous military forces at the adjoin-
ing nations. Americans read with
amazement Of the ruthless violation OF
tho rights CT neutrals and the reckless
Disregard of treaty obligations on the
part OF Germany, but tho war in it's
beginning seemed remote from our ar
fairs and not necessarily to AFFECT
American rights. There were advo-
Gates OF each OF tho contending ma
tions among US, and a strict neutrality
was maintained. The cruel treatment
OF tho conquered and enslaved Bel
CLANS excited our sympathy and
aroused our resentment, but there was
no certainty then that these acts had
the approval of the German rulers, 50
the American republic remained neu-
trail. and the American people hoped
against hope that America might not
become involved.
FRIGHTFULNESS OF GERMAN
POLICY BECOMES APPARENT
81
frightfulness Of the German military
policy became more and more evident
those among US who sympathized with
the German cause were little by little
alienated. There was still an under
current OF hone that we might not DO
drawn into the terrible conflict. Presi.
dent Wilson endenvored in every way
possible, consistent with the national
honor and dignity, to avert the dis
aster of war. On May 81, 1916. he
Urged the warning nations to state
their peace terms, and pledged that the
United States would become n partner
in any scheme Of lasting peace. The
answer OF Germany was evasive ana
unsatisfactory. Then came the sink
Ing of the Lusitania and the wnnton
murder by drowning OF hundreds or
American men and help
less women and children. This act
was SO constituencies and inhuman, SO
contrary to all the rules OF civilized
warfare, that n shudder OF horror ran
throughout the American republic
and the few remaining sympathizers
with the German cause saw they could
no longer continue their friendship for
any nation guilty of such deliberate
acts of brutality and savaGery. Tho
demand came from end TO end Of the
nation to declare war against this
monster which was running amuck
among the nations. Tho President,
however. waH patient. He hcsitatcd
TO lead the nation into the awful vor.
tex of war and endeavored to save tho
national honor without that dire no.
cessity. He wrote 4 note OF protest to
the German rulers. They promised
they would sink no moro merchant
ships without warning. and for a time
1t was thought that the crisis might
pass. but 1t was only a hope to those
who realized the German purpose OF
world domination, The President
calmly waited, ignoring the malignanr
criticism and bitter attacks Of some or
those who insisted that we could no
longer honorably remain out OF the
conflict.
WILSON URGES PLAN
OF LASTING PEACE
AS late as January %, 1917. the
fresicent addressed the Senate. urging
pan or lasting peace among the
nations through international arrange
ment. - tow days thereafter IL he
came known that on January Is. 1917,
the German rulers had sent a secret
TO unite them In war against the
United States and promising ia civ.
Mexico in turn q part OF the United
States. Then Germany notified our
government that It would no longer
keep it's promise not to sink merchant
ships without warning. by plain i'm
plication 1t admitted that 1t had giycs
this promise merely to gain time for
preparation for warfare of hid.ouz
frightfulness. What was to be done?
EVERY effort OF diplomacy had been ex-
hausted. American ships were being
sunk without warning, the American
nag was being insulted and fired upon.
american men and women were being
butchered. the mailed fist of Germany's
war lord was being shaken at Amer
lcan institutions, German cpies in,
rested our country. endeavoring to In
cite discomfort, strikes and even civil
war. 1t was plain that the German
autocracy regarded this republic with
contempt. and its entrance or Moment
renee into the war as mattor of in
pittert nco, National honor and mn
tional safety demanded that something
should be done submission to srch
wrongs would have been objectionable
national cowardlce
Only ono thing could be done. all
other means having been exhausted.
The American people then realized that.
II the German autocracy should over
come the European allies, our turn
would be next. We had to fight to
save our honor. to save our nat,ona,
existence. and to save democracy
throughout the world. for democracy
and autocracy cannot exist side by side.
A state of war was recognized by Con-
gress, and thus reluctantly we were
brought into the world conflict, after
the President had done everything that
could fairly BIO done to avoid the ca
tastrophe. Now that we are In the