Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-02
PRESIDENT ASKS CONGRESS
TO DECLARE STATE OF WA

dustries and our commerce. Indeed, 1t
Is now evident that its spies We're here
even before the war began, and 1t is
unhappily not matter of conjecture
but fact proved in our courts of JUS
tice that the intrigues which have more
than once come periously near to dis
turbing the peace and dislocating the
industries of the country have been
carried on at the instigation, with the
support, and even under the personal
direction of official agents of the i'm
perial government accredited to the
government of the United States. Even
in checking these things and trying to
eXtirpate them we have sought to put
the most generous Interpretation pos
sible upon them because we knew that
their source lay, not in any hostile
feeling or purpose of the German peo-
pie towards us (who were, no doubt, as
ignorant of them as we ourselves
were), but only in the selfish designs
of government that did what it
pleased and told its people nothing.
But they have played their part in
serving to convince us at last that that
government entertains no real friend
snip for us and means to act against
our peace and security at its convent
ence. That it means to stir up enemies
against US at our very doors the inter-
cepted note to the German minister
at Mexico City is eloquent evidence.
we are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
IN such government, following such
methods, we can never have friend; ;
and that in the presence of its organ
lied power, always lying in wait to
accomplish we know not what purpose.
there can be no assured security for the
democratic governments of the world.
We are now about to accept gauge of
battle with this natural foe to liberty
and shall, if necessary. spend the whole
force of the nation to check and nullify
its pretensions and its power. We are
glad. now that We see the facts with
no veil of false pretense about them,
to fight thus for the ultimate peace of
the world and for the liberation of it's
peoples, the German peoples included:
for the rights of nations great and
small and the privilege of men every
where to choose their way of life and of
obedience. The world must be made
safe for democracy. Its peace must be
planted upon the tested foundations of
political liberty. We have no selfish
ends to serve.
We desire no conquest, no dominion.
We seek no injemnities for ourselves,
no material compensation for the sac
rifices we shall freely make. We are
but one of the champions of the rights
of mankind. We shall be satisfied
when those rights have been made as
secure as the faith and the freedom
of nations can make them.
To Observe Principles of Right.
Just because we fight without ran
cour and without selfish object, seek
ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish to share with all free peo-
pies, We shall, l feel confident, conduct
our operations as belligerents without
passion and ourselves observe with
proud punctiIio the principles of right
and of fair play We profess to be
fighting for.
have said nothing of the governments
allied with the Imperial Government of
Germany because they have not made war
upon US or challenged US to defend our
right and our honor. The Austro- Hun
garian Government has, indeed, avowed
it's unqualified endorsement and accept
ance of the reckless and lawless sub
marine warfare adopted now without dis
guise by the Imperial German Govern
ment, and it has therefore not been pos
sible for this Government to receive
Count Tarnowski, the Ambassador recent
ly accredited to this Government by the
Imperial and Royal Government of Aus
tria- Hungary: but that Government has
not actually engaged in warfare against
citizens of the United States on the seas,
and [ take the liberty, for the present at
least, of postponing a discussion of our
relations with the authorities at Vienna.
We enter this war only where we are
clearly forced into it because there are
no other means of defending our rights.
Act Without Animus.
It will be all the easier for US to c~.-
duct ourselves as belligerents IN
high spirit of right and fairness be-
cause We act without animus, not in
eEmity towards a people or with the
desire to bring any injury or disad-
upon them, but only in armed
opposition to an irresponsible govern
ment which has thrown aside all con-
of humanity and of right
and is running amuck. We are, let me
say again. the sincere friends of the
German people, and shall desire moth
ing so much as the early re-eStabliSh-
ment of intimate relations of mutual
advantage between us-however hard
1t may be for 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 because of that friend
ship-exercising a patience and for
bearanee which would otherwise have
been impossible.
We shall, happily, still have an oppor-
tunity to prove that friendship i'll our
daily attitude and actions towards the
millions of men and women of German
birth and native sympathy who live
us and share our life. and we
shall be proud to prove it towards all
VINO are in fact loyal to their neighbours
and to the Government in the hour of
test. They are, most of them, as true
and loyal Americans as if they had never
known any other fealty or allegiance
They will be prompt TO stand with us
n rebuking and restraining the few who
nay be of a different mind and purpose.
If there should be disloyalty, it viii be
lealt with with affirm hand of stern re-
preston; but. if it lifts its head at ALL
t will lift it only here and there and
without countenance except from law
ess and malignant few.
Months of Trial Ahead.
1t is a distressing and oppressive
luty, gentlemen of the Congress. which |
have performed in thus addressing
;ou. There are. it may be. many |
months of fiery trial and sacrifice !