The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-11-09
PORTIONS OF PRESIDENT WILSON'S WAR
MESSAGE SUPPRESSED IN GERMANY
That Kaiser Did Not Dare Pem Full Text of Address to Reach
His People Shown, II Declared by Distorted
Reports Published

the 26th OF February last thought II
would suf1ce to assert our neutral rights
with arms, our right to use the seas
against unlawful Interference, our righ
10 keep our people safe against unIaW-
iui violence. But armed neutrality it
now appears. is impracticab Because
submarines are I'm effect outlaws, when
use hs The German submarines have
neen used against merchant shipping,
IL is impossible to defend ships against
thelr attacks. as the law of nations has
assumed that merchantmen would de-
fend themselves against priv8teers or
cruisers, visible craft giving chase mp
ON the open sea. 1t is common pru-
uehce IN such circumstances, grim nee
esslty indeed, to endeavor TO destroy
them before they have shown their own
intention They must be dealt with up
on sight, II dealt with mt slI.
Inc German government denies the
right or neutrals to use arms at all
within the areas of the sea which IL
mas prescribed even in the defense OF
rights which no modern publcist has
ever before questioned their right to
defend. The intimation is conveyed that
the armed guards which we have
placed on our merchant ships will be
treated as beyond the pale OF law and
subject to be dealt with as pirates
would be. Armed neutrality L. inenec-
tual enough Mt best; In such circum-
stances and In the face of such preten-
sions IL In worse than Intellectual; Ii is
likely only to produce what Il was
meant TO prevent; IL Is practically GER
tain to draw us into war without either
the rights or the effectiveness of the bel
igerents. There IL one choice we can
not make, we arc Incapable of making;
we VIII not choose the pnth of submis-
sion and suner the most sacred rights
OF our nation and our people to be ig
nored or violated. The wrongs against
which we now array ourselves are no
common wrongs; they cut 10 the very
roots of human life.
With profound sense of the solemn
and even traglcaI character of the step
! am taking and OF the grave RESPONSE
bHitics which . involves, but in un-
hesitating obedience TO what I deem
my constitutional duty. l advise that
the congress declare the recent course
of the Imperial German government to
be In fact nothing less than war
against the government and people OF
the United States: that il formally ac-
cept the status of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon it; and that Il
take Immediate steps not only to put
tho country in a more thorough state
OF defense. but also to exert all its
power and employ all its resources to
bring tho government of the German
empire to terms and end the war.
What this will involve is clear. II
viii involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation in counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many and as incident to that. the ex-
tension to those governments Of the
most liberal financial credits. in order
that our resources may so far as pos
sible be added to theirs
1t Will involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re
sources of the country to supply the
materials OF war and serve the Incl
dental needs OF the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
1t will involve the immediate full
equipment OF the navy In all respects.
but particularly in supplying IL with
the best means OF dealing with the enc
mys submarines.
II will involve the immediate addi-
tion to the armed forces of the United
States. already provided for by law In
case OF war, of at least 500. 900 men.
who should. in my opinion. be chosen
upon the principle OF universal liabil-
ity to service and also the authorize
ton of subsequent additional incre-
ments of equal force so soon as they
may be needed and can be handled in
training
~ uisO, Ob CouEhes tne
granting of adequate credits to the
government, sustained. I hope, so far
as they can equitabIy he sustained by
the present generation, by weli-con-
ceived tsxation.
say sustained so far ns mny be
equitable by taxation. because Il seems
to me that IL would be most unwise to
base the credits. which will be
necessary. entirely ON money borrowed.
II In our duty, I most respectfully urge,
TO protect our people, SO far we
may, against the very serious hard
ships and evils which would be likely
to arise out of the Imitation which would
be produced by vast loans.
In carrying out the measures by
plishcd we should keep constantly In
mind the wisdom of interfering as lit
tie ms possible In our own preparation
and in the equipment of our own mill
tnry forces with the duty-fOr II will
he q very practical duty-of supplying
the nations already st war with Ger
many with the materials which they
cas obtain only from us or by our
sistnnce. They nre I'm the neId, and we
should help them In every way 10 be
effective there.
I shall take the liberty of suggest-
Ing, through the several executive de-
partments of the government. for the
onsidc ration of your committees,
measures for the accomplishment OF
the several objects ! have mentioned.
7 hope that II will he your pleasure to
deal with them ~ having been framed
after very careful thought by the
branch of the government upon. whom
the responsibility of conducting the
war md safeguarding the nation will
most directly fall.
While we do these things, these deep
Iy momeatous things, let us he very
clear. md make very clear to all the
world, what our motives and our oh
jects are. My own thought has not
been driven from Its hRbitual and aor-
NAL course by the unhappy events of
the last two months, and ! do not be-
iIeve that the thought Of the nation
has been altered or cIouded by them. I
have exactly the same things In mind
now that I had In mind when I ad-
dressed the senate on the 22d of Janu-
ary Inst; the same that i had In mind
when I addressed congress on the Sd OF
February aad on the 26th OF February.
Our object now, as thea, II TO vindicate
the principles of peace and justice In
the life of the wopld aa aWnlnat uel0ah