The Green Forest tribune., 1917-11-09

nothing 'or ourselves bug what we shah wish to share with all free people. we 'hall feel conf dent. conduct our oper- itions as belligerents without passion tnd ourselves observe wish proud punc tilio the principles of right and of fair play we profess to be fighting for.
 have said nothing of. the govern nents allied with the Imperial gov
 rnnent of Germany because they have not made war upon us or challenged us to defend our right and our honor. The Austr0-Hungarian government has. indeed, avowed It's unqualified indorse- inent and acceptance of the reckless md lawless submarine warfare, adopt ed now without disguise by tine imper- ial German government. and 1t has therefore not been possible for this government to receive Count TarnOW- ski, the ambassador recently accredited 70 this government by the Imperial and Royal government of Austria Hungary; hut that government has net actually engaged in warfare against citizens of the United States the seas, and | take the liberty. for the present at ieasf, of pOstporing discussion of our reintions with the autiOrities nj Wiz enna. We enter this war only where we are clearly forced into it because there are no other means of defending our rights.
 Ii will he all the easier for us to conduct ourselves as beiliSerents in a high spirit of right and fairness be cause We act without animus. not with enmity toward people with the desire to bring any injury or disad- vantage upon them, but only iB armed Orposition to an irresponsible goveru- meDt which has thrown aside all con alterations of humanity and of right and is running amuck.
 We are, let me say again, the sin- cere friends Gf the German people. and shall desire nothing much as the early re-estabiishment of intimate reIa- tions of mutual advantage between us, however hard it may he fer them for the time being to believe that this is spoken from our hearts. We have borne with their present government through all these bitter months be- cause of that friendship, exercising patience and GOrhearance which vYOuka otherwise have been impossible.
 We shall happily still have an op- p0rtUnity tO prove that friendship In daily attitude and actions toward the millions of men and women of Ger man birth and native sympathy who live among and share life, and we shall be proud to prove it toward all who are in fact loyal to tlleir neigh hor& and io tie government in the hour of test. They are most of them true and loyal Americans as if they had never known any other feaity or nl- i""Iance. They will be prompt to stand with us in rebulSinG and restraining the few who may he ef a different mind and purpose. If there should he dis loyalty, IL will be dealt with with firm, hand of stern repression; but if IL lifts its head at ali. if will lift ii only here and there and without cOuu- tenanee except from iawiess and malignant few.
 II is n distressing and oppressive duty. gentlemen of the congress. which I have performed in thus addressing yOB There are, it may be, many months of herS trioi and sacrifice ahead of us. II is a fearful thing to lead this great, pcareful re0pIe into war, into the most terrible and disastrous Of all wars, civ- ilizatt0n itself seeming to be in tue balance.
 But the right ia more precious than peace. and shall fg"it for the things whici, we have always carried nearest our I.enrts-for democracy. for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own govern men3s, for the rights and liberties of sEnll nations, for a universal dominion of right by such concert of free peO- pie shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.
 To such task can dedicate CiEr lives and OUT fortunes. everything that we are and everything that we have. with thc pride Of those who know that the day has come when America ia privileged to spend her blood md her might for tine 9rincipIes that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured.
 God helping her, sie r.sn do no other.