Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-12-08

statement to the world of Americas
war aims and of the basis upon which
peace will be considered was made
yesterday by President Wilson in an
address to Congress in which he urq-
ei immediate declaration Of a state of
war between the United States and
Austria~Hunaary - Germany's vassai
and tool. AS to Turkey and Bulgaria
also tools of the enemy-he coan.
seied delay because "they do not yet
stand in the direct path of our nee.
essary action"
To win the war, the President de-
clared in emphatic and ringing tones,
is the immediate and u~nalterable task
ahead. He urged Congress, just be-
ginning it's second war session, TO con.
centrate itself upon il.
War to the hilt with Austria an
added enemy. No compromise, no
premature peace, no thought of any.
thing but victory first, with Justice
and mercy afterwart. This epitomizes
President Wilson's address to Con.
gress yesterday.
IL was more than an announcement
OF policy or a reiteration of war
aims. 1t was like a battle cry and a
creed which will serve as a slogan
for the champions of democracy to
follow from now on until the last
shot is fired.
! Tl1S Presidents Messase.
The Presidents message, in fun,
follows:
December 4, 1917.
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
Eight months have elapsed since
last had the honor of addressing you.
They nave been months crowded
with vents OF immense and grave
significance for us. l shall not un-
dertake TO detail or even to sum.
marie those events. The practical
particulars Of the part we have play
ed in them will be laid before YOU
in the reports of the executive de.
partments. | shall discuss only oar
present outlook upon these vast af.
fairs, our present duties, and the
immediate means of accomplishing
the objects we shall hold always in
view.
j shall not go back to debate the
causes of the war. The intolerable
wrongs done and planned against US
by the sinister masters OF Germany
have long since become too grossly
obvious and odious to every true
American to need to be rehearsed.
But / shall ask you to consid again
and with a very grave scrutiny our
detectives and the measures by
which We mean to attain them; for
the purpose of discussion here in
this place is action, and or action
must move straight toward definite
ends. Our object is. of course, to
win the war; and we shall not slack,
en- or suffer ourselves TO be diverted
until it is won. But it is wortl
while asking and answering the
question, When shall we consider the
war won?
Know What War Is About.
From one point of view it is no.
necessary to breach this fundamen
tai matter. / do not doubt that the
American people know what the wa
is about and what sort Of an out
come they will regard as a realiza
tion Of their purpose in it. As a ma
tion we are united in spirit and in
tention. pay little heed to those
who tell me otherwise. / hear thu
voices of diszent-who does not?
hear the criticism and the clamor o
the noisily thcughtless and trouble
some. ! al-o see men here and there
fling Themselves in impotent disloy
atty against the calm. .ldom.tablt
power of the nation. / hear men de
bate peace who understand ne'thel
its nature nor the way in which We
may attain it with uplifted eyes ana
! unbrcken spirits. But | know tina.
mono OF these speaks for the nation
They do not touch the heart OF any
thing. They may safely be left t.
strut their uneasy hour and be for
gotten.
But from another point of View