The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1917-11-08
Gentlemen of the Congress:


have called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious, very serious. choices of policy to
be made, and made Immediately. which
IL is neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that should assume the re-
sponsibility of making
On the Sd of February last I officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement of the Imperial German
government that on and after the 1st
day of February II was its purpose TO
put aside all restraints of law or OF HUI
manity 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 Medi-
terranean. That had seemed to be the
object of the German submarine war
fare earlier in the war, but since April
Of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders of its undersea craft. In conform
ity with its promise. then given 10 us,
that passenger boats should not he
sunk, and that due warning would be
given to all other vessels which it's
submarines might seek TO destroy,
when no resistance wns offered or es-
cape attempted, and care taken that
their crews were given at least n fair
chance TO save their lives In their open
boats. The precautions taken were
meager and haphnzard enough, as was
proved In distressing Instance after
instance In the progress of the cruel
and unmanIy business, but n certain de-
gree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels of every kind,
whatever their flag, their character
their cargo, their destination. their
errnnd, have been ruthlessly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought Of help or mercy for those
on board the vessels of friendly neu-
trails along with those of belli gerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief 10 the soreIy bereaVed and strIck-
en- people of Belgium. though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself and were
distinguished by unmistakable marks
of identity. have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
of principle.
was for n little while unable 20
believe that such things would I'm fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had it's origin In the at
tempt 10 set UP some law which would
be respected and observed upon the
seas, where nation had right OF
dominion and where lay the free high
ways 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 accomplished. but always with n
clear view, at least, of what the heart
and conscience of mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea OF retaliation and necessity and
because II had no weapons which ii
could use at sea except these, which
81 Is impossible to employ as IL is en-
pioying them. without throwing to the
wind all scruples OF humanity or of
respect for the understandings that
were supposed to underlie the inter-
course OF the world,
IAN not now thinking Of the loss OF
nroperty involved. immense and serious
as that is. but only of the wanton and
wholesale destruction of the lives OF
non -combatants. men, women, ana chill
dren. engaged In pursuits which have
always, even I'm the darkest periods Of
modern history, been deemed Innocent
and legitimate. Property can be paid
for; the lives of peaceful and Innocent
ueople cannot he. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
Is a warfare against mankind.
n Is n war against all nations. Amer
tcrn ships have been sunk, American
lives taken, I'm ways which MAJ
alfred us very deeply TO learn OF, bu
the ships mad people of other neutrs
and friendly nations have been suns
ana overwhelmed In the waters In tn
.sme way. There has been no dis
crimfnatiOn.
The challenge r. 20 all mankind
Each nation must decide for itself how
a will meet IL. The choice we max
for ourselves must be made with
moderation OF counsel and temper
ateness of judgment befitting on
character and our motives as nation
we must put excited feelings away
Our motive will not be revenge or Tn
victorious assertion OF the physiea
might Of the nation. but only the vim
dIcation of right. of human right
which we are only a single champion.
when I addressed the congress o
the asth OF February last thought
would suffice TO assert our neutral right
with arms our right 60 use the ses
against unIz -sfuI frterference, our righ
60 keen our people safe against unisw
fuI violence. But armed neutrality,
% I'M ra cticable Hecnus